ROGERS CUP WOMEN

August 9, 2014

Venus Williams

MONTREAL, QUEBEC

V. WILLIAMS/S. Williams
6-7, 6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR:  Questions, please.

Q.  First win over Serena in over five years.  How does it feel?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Well, I mean, it was a tough match out there.  I don't think
we played for a number of years, as well.  It's not like we've been playing
year in and year out.
So I definitely expected a tough match.  She played well.  She hit so many
aces.  You know, hopefully I can play that well tomorrow, as well.

Q.  Serena said she felt you were serving better today in spite of all those
aces.  Did you feel that?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  I don't know.  I just felt like if I didn't serve better,
then I would probably not fare so well.  I think that was maybe some extra
motivation of getting some more first serves in.
I think we were both serving pretty equal.  I think in the first she served a
little better.  In the second I was maybe a little more consistent maybe with
the first-serve percentage, but I haven't looked at the percentages yet
either, so I'm not sure.

Q.  You said on the court that it felt like the final today.  How do you get
as excited for tomorrow's match?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Well, because I definitely don't want to be the letdown and
get out there tomorrow and not play at least half as well as today.  I don't
want to put any pressure on myself, but I want to go out there and try to
perform just as well.

Q.  How has the emotional charge from playing Serena changed from match 1
through 25?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  I think for both of us, what's so unique about the situation
is that we're both very good players.  I think typically you may have some
siblings, one is quite good, one is not as good, so you kind of know what the
result is, or the one that's better knows they're going to win.
I think we both know when we walk out there, it's not like you're guaranteed
a win.  I think that's what makes it challenging for both of us.

Q.  You've spent a lot of time on court over the last three days.  Do you
feel it at all right now?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Maybe.  Maybe not (smiling).  She'll never know, ha-ha-ha.
 A lot of time on court.  Making me trim down.  Best diet ever.

Q.  What about the dancing?  Are you going to go again tonight?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Maybe a little bit (smiling).

Q.  Last year after repeated victories Novak Djokovic entertained the crowd
by doing a crazy victory dance.  Is there a particular song you would groove
to?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  I don't know what song I'm into right now.  There's a couple
of songs, I think.  Maybe I should prepare something special.
I don't know.  I mean, if I'm fortunate enough to win this tournament, then
I'm sure it will be dance-worthy.  But got to get there first.

Q.  What would it mean to you to win this tournament?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  It would mean a lot to me because I've been dreaming of
winning a tournament at this level since I got back on tour.  Like, wow, if I
could win one of these, so...
You try and you try and you try.  There's disappointments.  One day you get a
little closer.  So this is my 'little closer' right now.  By all means, I
definitely want to keep getting to this area where you're getting closer to
the winner's circle.

Q.  How much more do you appreciate playing Serena now that the frequency
isn't how it used to be?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  I don't think anyone appreciates playing Serena.  Let's get
it straight.  She's tough to play.  You just are glad when she's on the other
side of the draw somewhere far away, so...
Yes, you appreciate when you can somehow manage to get a win.  I think that's
kind of what it is.  Then you just hope the next time you play it could go on
your side again.

Q.  How big of a deal is it for you to knock off the world's No.1 player?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Well, I don't know.  I don't know how other players see it.
 But for me, I see it that to play well against, you know, the best player in
the world takes a lot of courage and guts.
But, like, I don't measure myself against anyone.  I never have and I never
will.  So whatever I can produce on the court on my side is all I can control
ever.
So each person's achievements are their own.  Each one that I have is my own,
as well.  I see things a little bit differently, perhaps.

Q.  Your level of play has been consistently high lately.  Almost like you've
gone into a time machine a little bit.  I'm wondering if that's because you
almost had to reset, and have you learned to put it together in a new way,
manage the illness, manage the time?  Is this a result of relearning with a
new factor to how to be a professional tennis player?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  No, actually I would say it's a great guess (smiling).  But
I would say it's not that.
I just feel better.  I pray I can keep this.  That's all I pray for nowadays.
 Well, I pray for a lot more.  That would be selfish if that's all I pray
for.  If I could keep this, then that would be amazing.

Q.  Nobody knows Serena's game better than you do.  How far do you think she
is from getting to her top level again?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Serena is at her top level.  You can't win every match.  I
think that's just how life is.  You can't win 'em all.
She pretty much has won 'em all for the last couple years.  So sometimes you
just can't do it all.  So whether or not she's at the highest level I think
is clear.
She's No.1.  Nobody wants to play her.  If you do, you have to play the match
of your life.  That's apparent.  There's no doubt on that.

Q.  Did you just play the match of your life then?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  I really still don't know really what happened.  I just kept
trying to hit it in.  Eventually it was over.  Honestly, I probably will have
to look at the match.  I don't know.

Q.  I'm ignorant about your illness.  How do you feel better?  Sometimes you
feel better, sometimes you don't?  Do you have to manage it with some sort of
pharmaceuticals?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Oh, yes.

Q.  Hopefully nothing illegal.
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Hell, no.  I have a regimen that I keep.  I never get into
details.  One of these days when I'm gone I'll talk about it a little more.
 At this point I have to remain competitive, so it's important for me to
just, you know, get out there and not complain.
If I don't win, I don't win.  I go out and try to figure out how I can do it.
 That's pretty much what I've done.  If I haven't won for whatever reason, I
go back to that drawing board and try to figure it out.  I think my recent
success has been a result of that.

Q.  The regimen, is that drugs you're managing it with?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Yeah, there's typical drugs, pharmaceuticals, whatever you
like to call them, pharmaceutical-grade drugs that are typical treatments for
Sjogren's and what I have.  So that's what I do.

Q.  Do you feel more pressure to win tournaments when you knock your sister
out?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Maybe in some ways because it feels like she would have won,
so why shouldn't I?  Or why would I just ruin it for someone else just so I
could not win?
Those are definitely thoughts that go through your head.  But in the end you
have to focus on one match at a time.  If you can sleep at night knowing you
tried your best, even if you didn't win, then that's enough.

Q.  You only played Serena once in the past five years.  Did you think at all
today it could be your last one?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  No.  Who thinks like that?  Just negative people.  I'm
definitely not one of those people.
I always look forward to the future.  I always see the future as something
awesome.

Q.  Do you have any preferences for who you play of your two possible
opponents tomorrow?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  No, not really.  They both have been playing well.  They
both deserve to be in the finals.  It's just up to those two at this point.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports