Serena Williams defeats Venus Williams
6-1, 6-2

Semifinal Round

VENUS WILLIAMS

Q. Venus, she's pretty good, huh?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. She is.

Q. So how are you physically just playing three matches in two days? Had to
be a tough turnaround today.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. You know, I felt pretty good actually. So you know, it
would have been nicer to have more spaces between the matches, but it did not
work out.

Q. It seems like some of the better tournaments that Serena has put together
actually in this last decade, the Olympics, winning here very dominant last
year. You've obviously played with her over more than a decade. Do you see
big changes in her game in recent years since the last time you two played?

VENUS WILLIAMS: We haven't played in a while, so it's kind of hard to compare
the last time. It was like almost four years ago. So it's kind of tough to do
that.

Q. Did you see anything out there that you could maybe remember seeing before
from her?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I do hit balls with her, so you know, but like I said, we
haven't played in almost four years. So it's just been a while. I don't
really remember that match that much anymore.

Q. Venus, can you talk about the week overall for you? It seems like it's
been a very good week. And then also just about how well you think Serena is
playing.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. It was a really great week for me, and I think this is
some of the best I've felt in a very long time. So for me it's something to
build on.
If I have opportunities to continue to play and continue to get myself in
situations, and this week, like I had a lot of situations that I need to be
in, like playing 4-4 games, and sometimes I would lose a set, but it was good
for me to be able to play and just get in those situations and come through.
So I need more of that.
And obviously Serena is playing extremely well, and it's great to see her at
No. 1 and just fulfilling every dream.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about what your plans are now for the clay
season? Are you planning a full clay court schedule?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm really just planning on playing Madrid and Rome. Nothing
complicated.

Q. Okay. Obviously you guys grew up playing together, you've played each
other so much throughout your professional career. But for here it was very
new. It was very exciting. There was a lot of buildup for that. Does that
kind of wear on you guys when a lot more people, whether it's fans or media,
make a big deal out of you guys playing each other or do you embrace that?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I think we both just try to prepare for the match the
best we can. That's all we can do pretty much.

Q. When both of you are finally hanging it up, whenever th at might be,
hopefully not soon, how do you want people to remember the rivalry that you
two had and this collection of matches that you two put together?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I haven't actually thought about that. I don't know. I think
that Serena and I will be remembered as women who changed the sport, and for
us just to be able to achieve something like that in our lifetimes is beyond
what we ever dreamed of achieving on the court. So I think at the end that's
what we will cherish.

Q. Venus, could you feel the crowd getting behind you there, and what was
that like?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I did. I mean I was controlling the points, but then I
would miss. You know, so that felt good.
I think people have been very supportive of me here and they want to see a
good match, but also, I think they were also behind me as well. So that felt
really nice. And you know, hopefully Serena and I will play against each
other again here.

Q. Not that you're going to make any excuse, but do you think you were at a
disadvantage having to play the two matches, more than Serena was yesterday?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I mean I played under the same circumstances as everyone
else. So -- well, at least everybody in the top half of the draw. So it has
to be an even play ing field here, and that's what it was.

Q. Venus, I understand a loss is a loss, no matter who it comes to. Is it any
more difficult when maybe you have to go back tonight and see her at dinner
or tomorrow morning getting ready? Does that change the dynamic at all?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, because I think -- no, because it's just my sister. You
know, I had a chance to win the match. We both had racquets and everything. I
didn't take advantage of my opportunities, so there's no reason for me to be
upset about that.
I just have to improve my game, and like I said, I have to get in these
situations more often. And you know, I've been off balance for a long time
and I'm trying to regain my balance.

Q. Jankovic seems to not be afraid of the challenge of you two. Talk about
what makes playing her tough. And do you think she does bring sort of a
different attitude?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I mean when she was at the top of her game, every ball landed
in and when she miss-hit it, it was still a winner, so it was a challenge to
compete against her because she could do no wrong. Now I think that she's
just trying to build her game back up, and you know, that's what we're all
trying to do.

Q. Do you have any words of advice for Serena for the final if it is her?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. I mean if she continues to play well, I think that
obviously she could get two wins in a row here.

Q. Venus, you said last year the Olympics was such a big goal for you. This
year are you setting any specific goals at all?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. I mean my main goal is just to work on my health, and
the better I can feel, the better I can perform, the better I feel, the
better I can prepare for tournaments. So that's my main goal. It's always a
work-in-progress.

THE MODERATOR: Anyone else? Thank you.

End of Interview