WIMBLEDON

June 30, 2016

Venus Williams

London, England

V. WILLIAMS/M. Sakkari
7-5, 4-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You're a five-time champion here, yet you were out on Court18, the
smallest of the show courts. Martina Navratilova tweeted that it stinks. Did
you feel it was disrespectful?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm not so much into disrespect. I'm willing to play
anywhere, any time. Of course, I was happy to be on the schedule.
I think if all players have to play outside, all players should have to play
outside. There shouldn't be exceptions or any inequality to it.
For me, no problems playing anywhere. Anyone should play anywhere.

Q. When you say that, you mean both men and women?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Exactly, both men and women. I played many times on outside
courts. It didn't matter how many titles I had won or what my ranking was at
that time. It didn't make a difference whether I played on an outside court
or a center court.
Like I said, I don't mind where I play. It's just as long as everyone plays
on the outside courts, you know.

Q. Are you frustrated that they have taken a step back getting more women's
matches on main courts?
VENUS WILLIAMS: It's not the ideal schedule for the women. We'd like to see
equal amount of matches. We don't want more, just the same amount, that's all.

Q. Could you imagine a five-time male champion being on an outside court?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I haven't seen that in the scheduling yet (smiling).

Q. How good does it feel to win two Wimbledon matches in one day?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, it's not easy out there. Our opponents always play
really well in singles, doubles, mixed, any other event that we may be in.
There's really never an easy point.
It's nice to know, okay, I can get through these matches against opponents
who are playing so well.

Q. The other day you said you feel an infinity inside of you. What did you
mean by that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: To clarify, I meant that people in general have this infinity
inside of them. None of us feel old. None of us feel unable. We all feel able
no matter what age we are. Sometimes the body doesn't agree, but...
At this point my infinity is still agreeing.

Q. Given that great outlook, what are your most specific, if any, hopes for
your tennis future and your beyond-tennis future?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Tennis future, of course, I want to win. I'm not here to not
win. What's the point of being here? It's easier said than done. Everyone's
playing well. Everybody plays really well. There's no easy matches.
Of course, outside the court, I'm already doing what I'd like to do with my
life. I'd like to see that continue.

Q. Can you elaborate what your favorite activities are that you're doing
outside of tennis?
VENUS WILLIAMS: My most favorite activities are hanging out with my family,
with my dog. I mean, when you're on tour, you feel like you miss 66% of your
life, two-thirds of your life, with people you love. It's a big sacrifice.
It's a big sacrifice.
I feel like I've missed more than half my dog's life, and now he's nine.
There's a big sacrifice. Of course, that's my favorite thing.
Of course, in terms of work and productivity, of course, EleVen, my fashion
line, and V Starr Interiors. That's more than enough.

Q. Your success is long running, but today was a big day for a lot of
Americans. Where do you see American tennis these days?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Honestly, I haven't seen any result. I've been so busy
playing matches. On the court close to four hours today. I have no idea what
has happened.
But Americans have been winning more and more matches, which is a beautiful
thing. Especially if you come from America, you love it even more.

Q. The other day you mentioned the 2020 Olympics. I don't know if there was
any seriousness to that statement. Do you have an end of the road in the back
of your head or you're just continuing to do and play and work hard each and
every day?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, no exact end of the road. It's hard to think about the
end when you're playing well. I don't have any plans on making any comebacks.
So when I'm done, I'll definitely lay it down, try to get a life of some sort.
If I'm at 2020 and that's part of the plan, then I'll be there.

Q. Do you think for you it's going to be a retirement of you finish a match
and you walk away, or you have a swan song farewell tour?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm not into a swan song. When I'm done, it will be done,
yeah.

Q. You made an interesting comment that you learn the most from matches you
lose. You said you learned from your loss to Timea at the French Open. What
did you learn from that match?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I learned I needed to win that match. Losing is never fun,
but I try to have a good attitude about it, even when you're on the court.
You never know when that loss or that win is going to be you. You have to be
at least happy for your opponent because they played well.
I don't like bad attitudes when I lose or anybody else loses. You have to be
a sportsman.
I congratulated her on that match.

Q. We got emails about a new top executive coming in at EleVen. Were you
involved in that decision?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I mean, I don't know what's out there, so...

Q. On the court, when you're walking out to Court18, a court you might not be
entirely happy to play on, is it tough to focus on that? Any sense of
frustration at all?
VENUS WILLIAMS: To make it crystal clear, like I said, I wasn't unhappy to
play on Court 11 [sic]. I just want equality for men's and women's matches.
That's what I'm unhappy about. I have no problem where I play. I'll play on
the practice courts if I need to. I have no problem with that.

Q. In terms of your game and your approach throughout your whole career, what
do you think the biggest reasons for your great success have been?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, my gosh. There's never one reason. Definitely hard work.
Cannot ever get around it. Natural talent, like, always helps. Thank you, mom
and dad. That helps a lot. Self-belief is so important. That's huge. No
matter what, you have to try to believe, even if it's hard.

Q. What natural talents, what set you apart as a player?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I'm 6'1", so that helps. I'm 6'1" and I'm also not
slow. So that helps. There are certain things that you never know what your
natural talent is going to be. Other people have amazing hands. Everybody has
something that they're good at. That's a natural talent.

Q. Have you been in touch with your mom today, who met Camilla, the Duchess,
today?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I don't know what's going on here. I just know when it's
time for me to be on court, I try to be there. Anything else, I have no idea
what's happening.
That's cool. My mom is a cool lady. So is Camilla.

Q. A little earlier, Madison Keys said she marvels at your serve and always
has. What do you think the biggest components of your great serve have been?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I'm 6'1", very long arm (laughter).
But she has an amazing serve, too. I have so much respect for her and her
game. She's such a joy in tennis, a fresh breath of air, such a talent. I
enjoy watching her play. I enjoy being on the Fed Cup team with her. That was
very nice of her to say.

Q. Do you plan on talking to the tournament managers about the court
situation or do you feel as if you've done that and they're not listening?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I'm sure that the WTA supervisors have done their best
to, you know, try to make the schedule equal. But also the All England Club
has to have a culture where they want to have equality, as well. They need to
want to pursue that.
I would love to see where we don't have to talk about this any more in the
press conference.

Q. I know you love spending time in Italy. What do you love most in Italy?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think just the atmosphere and the ambiance. Also it's
beautiful, so... You can't beat it.

Q. What is your relationship with Wimbledon, the tournament, if you had to
describe it as a relationship like you have with family or friends?
VENUS WILLIAMS: That's an interesting question. I don't know if I have an
answer for that.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports