TENNIS MASTERS SERIES - ROMA


May 14, 2002


Venus Williams

ROME, ITALY


THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Did a doctor see you?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes.

Q. Did he give you a diagnosis?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes.

Q. What did he say?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, the doctors give you a diagnosis, but they don't tell
you what to do because they don't want to make a decision for the players. So
they give you the best information they can, and, unfortunately, they don't
help me with the decision. You have to do it alone.

Q. From what the doctor says or from what you feel, how serious do you think
it is?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Hopefully, it won't be very serious. Hopefully, I'll be able
to practice soon. I'm just going to take some time off and maybe finally see
something in Rome.

Q. It's not only this week, but you've got to consider, with the French and
Wimbledon coming up, it's very important that you're fit for those two big
events coming up, one after the other?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, for sure. But every tournament is so important. If I
could have done well here, I could have really solidified my No. 1 ranking a
lot better, I think. And, really, it somewhat makes me nervous about the
French, that I won't be able to play this week, that I'll have two weeks that
I can't play a tournament. So, you know, there was a lot of factors in the
decision. Should I try to play? If I play, am I going to make it even worse
than it is now? So it makes me nervous.

Q. Is this the same problem you had two years ago?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, not at all.

Q. Did you pick up the bag and feel something go, or was it something that
you didn't notice too much at the time?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I did notice it at the time, but then I was okay. But right
now, the same symptoms and same pain I had then is the same that I'm having
now.

Q. Was it picking up the bag? Did it twist?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't remember exactly what movement, but it had something
to do with the bag. I was... I don't know.

Q. Suddenly, pain?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah.

Q. Have the doctors given you any prognosis? Did they say to take a couple
weeks off, see how you feel? Anything like that?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. No prognosis at this point, because I just saw the doctor
now. So it wasn't a lot of time. But I do have a personal -- I mean, a
trainer that travels with me, a physical therapist. So that really makes it
easy for me to get a lot of attention.

Q. At this moment do you think it's your intention to stay in Europe between
now and Paris?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I'm gonna stay. I can't go home and get the attention
that I need and take care of myself. I think it's just I'm going to be here
and support Serena, then hopefully start practicing on the clay.

Q. Any plans for an MRI scan, anything like that? Any investigative tests?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know.

Q. We're wondering, should you have announced the fact that you had this
little problem to the press yesterday, since it's been going on for a few
days?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No.