V Williams - 30 June 2009
Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Q. 15 years ago your career started in Oakland. That night when you played,
did you have any idea where your career was going, and do you remember much
about that night?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, yeah, I remember a lot about that night. I got to the
tennis and I left my clothes on the bed in the hotel. So that wasn't the best
start.

But it was great times then. I had a lot of positive feedback growing up that
I would be a winner and that I would win tournaments. So from a young age
when, you know, your coaches tell you that, you believe it. So I was kind of
brainwashed in a good way.


Q. There was so much publicity about you making your debut. Were you a bit
nervous or anything?

VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I wasn't nervous after the warmup. I remember
thinking I wasn't very good at lobs. I've since improved. I remember thinking
in the warmup like, I wonder if I'll be able to put the lobs up for her. That
was like one of my biggest fears.

So it puts everything into perspective when you're only, what was I, 14.


Q. Do you feel invincible when you step out on the grass here at Wimbledon?

VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I do a lot of good things right. You know, that
first set for me was really almost perfect. The second set I think I got a
little bit impatient the first couple of games, but I was able to mentally
bring it back and realized that maybe I did have to hit a few more balls,
because everyone lifts their game, especially after a first set that was
one-sided.

Do I feel invincible? I'd like to say yes, but I really do work at it.


Q. If you were any other player but Venus Williams, how do you think you'd
feel having to face Venus Williams?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I have no idea. I guess the same way I feel when I have to
face Serena Williams.


Q. What do you feel when you have to face her?

VENUS WILLIAMS: You just have to -- you can't give an inch. You have to be on
your best game, and hopefully she might not be on her best game, is really
how you feel playing against Serena.


Q. What have you learned over the years about the number of tournaments that
works best for you in terms of staying fit and keeping the level where you
want to be? And do you feel the leaders of the tour understand that for each
player it may be a different level of competition or different degree of
competition?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, you have to find that happy medium of definitely being
part of a business plan that works, and also doing -- at least doing what's
best for me.

Historically I think most players like to play a little more than I do. But,
you know, historically I'd like to hang around in my career a little longer,
too, so...

Uhm, I can only answer for me. And I really do -- I try to -- I really do try
to make my commitments, but I also try to do what's best for me.


Q. Your opponent today said she tried very hard, but because you were playing
so well, she felt it was virtually impossible. She said the only other time
she basically feels that hopelessness is when she's playing your sister. Why
do you think you've cut such a division between yourselves and the rest of
women's tennis? Do you feel you're carrying women's tennis, and why aren't
there people coming out to challenge you guys properly?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I feel that Serena and I work real hard. That's the
first point. And, second, if it was so easy, we'd win everything. But it's
not that easy.

We still, I think, are definitely the frontrunners in tennis as far as, you
know, being some of the best players out there. But if there were just two
players, it would just be a final. There's got to be 128. So that's the way
it's got to be.

I look forward to the challenge of whoever's across the net.


Q. Did you see any of the action under the roof last night? If you did, what
did you think of it?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, I did. I think it was exciting. The lighting, from the
TV at least, it looked like daylight instead of light, under the lights. So
it looked pleasant enough.

But I haven't played under the roof, so I don't know what it's like.


Q. Fancy it?

VENUS WILLIAMS: This is Wimbledon. Under the roof, no roof, whatever, I just
want to play.


Q. Do you pay any attention to the rankings at all?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, I do. I do.


Q. In what respect?

VENUS WILLIAMS: That I know where my ranking is and I'm trying to move up.
That's what I pay attention to. Mine and Serena's. And, you know, our
doubles, because it's been pretty good, and we haven't had a ranking in a
long time in doubles.


Q. There was a question about your early days. When you and Serena were
emerging, was there a kind of pushback or resistance to you coming on the
scene, emerging through the rankings, getting to the top?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, my gosh. Looking back, you know, I guess there would be a
million things to say about past times. But looking back, all I can say is
that I remember that we had a good time, we laughed even when we lost, and we
enjoyed it. So that's mostly what I remember.


Q. Seems to us like there are only two players, at Wimbledon at least. Does
it feel that way to you? Do you feel the rest of the field are getting closer
to you or further away?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, it's nice to get so much credit, but I just have to
emphasize that we work on it. We work day in and day out. To close these
matches out takes a lot of work.


Q. I understand you work on it. But compared to the way the opposition are,
you're in matches and you know how it's going, you know how easy or difficult
it is during those matches. How has that balance changed maybe in the last
five years since you've been winning here?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm confused. What did you say?


Q. You seem to be going toward another final. I know that progress isn't
easy. I'm not suggesting you don't work at it. But to us it appears that
you're beating your opponents even more easily. Is that because the other
girls aren't at the standard they maybe were at a few years ago?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I just think that the style of game that Serena and I play,
that particular style we play better than the other women. If you're talking
about another style, maybe we don't play that as well.

Maybe like my opponent today, her particular style of play, I probably don't
know how to play that way. But the style of game we play is the most
effective, and I think we're the best at that style. I think that shows in
results.


Q. How was your knee today? Were you inconvenienced when she started to chip
and lob in the second set?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, uhm, you know, like I said, I can't complain about
anything physically or with the results. She did start to play like a little
different in the second set.

I would have liked to have moved forward a little bit more, but the ball was
staying quite low. So I just adjusted to whatever, whatever was coming back
at me. I think it was really smart for her to try to change the strategy,
because that's what you have to do when the first things aren't working.


Q. But the knee was okay?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm doing well, thank you.


Q. About the ranking, how does being No. 1, when you get there, compare to
winning another Grand Slam title? What's more important?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Everyone picks the Grand Slam, of course. When your career's
over you count 'em up, so I'd have to say Grand Slam, like anyone else.


Q. It looks like it's going to be Safina. Talk about that matchup a little
bit. Is it too early to start thinking about your sister?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I definitely take it one round at a time. Being in the
semifinals is obviously where I want to be right now. I would love it to be a
Williams final, and so would she. That would be great.

But if I play Safina, more of the same stuff I've been doing. That's all can
I predict.


Q. You were saying a moment ago about your style of play. How would you
characterize your style of play?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Just very aggressive. There's more room for error than maybe
before, but just very aggressive. I do have strategy. Maybe it doesn't look
like it, but I do. I think that's my secret weapon, that it doesn't look like
I'm thinking, but I am.


Q. You mentioned a couple times you'd like to make your career go longer.
Some very good players are already retired. How long would you like to play,
and how long do you think your sister would like to play?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, we've talked about playing the 2012 Olympics. We've
talked about playing doubles in the 2016, because we hope it goes to Chicago.
That's pretty much where our timeline is heading. So somewhere in between.


Q. As you get closer to a final against your sister, how does that affect
your interaction with her at all? Is there anything at all different as the
days get closer to the possibility of playing one another?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, not at all. We still encourage each other. I mean, on
finals day we don't say, You can do it, to each other.

At the same time we're doubles partners, too, so we have to be focused on the
doubles court and work as a team.

I mean, we've got it all figured out at this point, what's coming up. So the
key is for us both to do well and to get to that final.


Q. You talked about your own style. What about Safina's style?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think she definitely plays aggressively, tries to move
forward when she can, and also plays good defense and tries to take advantage
of serving well when she can.

She definitely I think has a mix both games, and that's a good balance.


Q. When you walk out for that match, you're playing the top seed. Normally
that would make you the underdog. You're not going to feel like that against
Safina?

VENUS WILLIAMS: When I go out there, I'm going to, of course, feel like I
want to make it happen on my side of the net. You're right, she has the top
ranking, but I have more the experience in this tournament and more success.
You know, I've been playing a little longer.

So if she keeps playing longer, too, then maybe she has the opportunity to
have lots of success here, too.