V. WILLIAMS/L. Safarova

6-7, 6-2, 7-5

An interview with:

VENUS WILLIAMS

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Talk about the match. It was obviously two days, tough opponent, very tight
there in the third set.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, it was a well-played match. Yesterday I think I did too
many things wrong. She just was firing for every shot and making them.

Obviously with the delay was a lot of things to think about beforehand, what I
could do different, and just tried to be as aggressive as I could. The last
two sets, you know, it was close. But these kind of matches are
really rewarding, and she was playing well. ButI felt like like I deserved it.

Q. When you have a break like that, do you try to stay in the match until it
resumes, or try to put it out of your mind until you're close to back on
the court?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I definitely think about it, but for the most part, you know,
I analyze what I could could do better, and move on and get ready for the next
portion of the match.
I'm pretty good at compartmentalizing. Is that the right word? Yes.

Q. You're very good at not doubting yourself when you get to the
difficult moments like you faced today. Is that something you're able to do?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, either way I'm swinging and trying to play aggressive.
You know, the more intense the match is, the more aggressive I think I get,
and I think that's a good sign for me.
You know, I have a lot to work with my serve and return and lots of good
things. It gives me a chance to be confident.

Q. Last year you played into the darkness, and it didn't come out so well.
Last night when the issue came up, were you pretty relieved that the match was
halted?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I mean, I still wanted to continue, but it was a better
decision not to. There just wasn't any way to finish that set. It was cloudy,
so it was just going to be getting darker. So it was, you know, right for
both of us to stop.

Q. Also, there was a story in L'Equippe about your sister's affinity for
Paris and the fact she's bought an apartment and so forth. It was said you
actually prefer Rome a little bit to Paris. Can you tell us why?

VENUS WILLIAMS: It's a little warmer. I'm a Florida girl, and from California,
too. I'm used to the heat. I like to be warm.
Although when it's warm here it's tough because there is no air conditioning.
So it's a little, you know, little tough.

Q. Is that it, the climate?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I just like to be warm.

Q. What was your state of mind when you went to bed yesterday? And did you
have a good night?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I was very angry. I really wanted that tiebreaker. She
just came up with shot after shot, you know, on the line, deep, hard, you
know, the best shots she could hit. I wanted the tiebreaker. I was pretty
upset.
But, you know, I wound down and I had my little dog with me. We had some good
times and just eat dinner and watch a program and just get ready. You know,
nothing I could do about that. Just get ready.

Q. Can you take us back to what you're thinking when you were serving
there and faced a match point? Are you thinking, how did I get here or how do I
get out of it? What's your thought there?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I wasn't thinking. Not at all. Just -- I actually wasn't --
probably just stick to my technique. Rely on that. Thankfully, I wasn't
thinking. It just happened, so it was great.

Q. You said that after your first match you were kind of a
third-set specialist. Did you like what happened in this third set today?
Because the fight obviously was very tough.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I mean, definitely used to getting a break and running ahead
and really solidifying it. But today it was very close. She served well and
didn't give me a lot of points. So, you know, it was just one of those
matches that feels really good to win, because obviously the level of play was
so high.
Obviously the third set, I feel like I have the advantage. But, you know,
against someone playing so well, it's a challenge.

Q. We often think of you of working your way into these big tournaments. Can
you gauge at this point sort of where your level is?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I feel very good. I feel very good. So far, I've played two
players who really just brought out their A game and were just attacking.
You know, I think it's a good strategy. To just to come through it is really
good. I feel good. I'm serving good and moving well and doing what it takes.
I'll continue on that.
As far as a level, I mean, good or bad, I still know how to play tennis, so I
don't give myself rankings. I just usually congratulate myself on
doing something good and correct the bad and not dwell. Dwelling can kill you
on the court.

Q. Speaking of suspended matches, have you ever had a doubles match that
that's been suspended so many days?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I mean, I've had a singles match that suspended over a
middle Sunday, and that wasn't fun. But, no. The scheduling has been a little
bit strange, but we're working with it.

Q. That backhand winner you hit on the match point against you, that
was absolutely crushed. Are you saying that you didn't even think about the
fact that it was a match point? That you just played it? You were
concentrating so much you played...

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't even remember what I thought about on the serve and
running up to that ball. I just hit it aggressively. I'm tall, so when I run up
to balls my arms get in the way. So I have to be careful about not getting
too close.
When you're tall,you've got a different set of issues than if you're short or
medium. So it's like, okay, don't get too close. When I get too close I hit
it wide. So just finding that balance and going for it.