US OPEN


August 30, 1997


Venus Williams

Flushing Meadows, New York


Q. I was wondering why, Serena, you didn't shake the umpire's hand when it
was done?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know.

Q. No reason why?

SERENA WILLIAMS: A lot of people don't shake the umpire's hands when they
lose. They might be thinking about something else. Actually, my mind was on
something else.

Q. A little while ago you told us what you like the most about the sport of
tennis and being a tennis pro. Could you take a moment and say what is the
one thing, except for the travel, that you like the least about being a
tennis pro?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Doing laundry. Besides losing, I suppose. That is all right
too. Doing laundry.

Q. Talk about this afternoon's experience.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Problem is that we really expected to win, but we hadn't
practiced. So one and one subtracts -- didn't added up. I figured out too
late, though, but it is okay. We both learned.

Q. How come you hadn't practiced?

VENUS WILLIAMS: We thought we had it together, I guess.

SERENA WILLIAMS: We usually practice our singles game and hit groundstrokes,
so it was more like we were playing singles instead of doubles.

Q. You both came up to the net a lot? I mean, is that something you normally
do?

SERENA WILLIAMS: When we play doubles, I really don't believe in staying
back. A couple times when I stayed back, changing up, but I mean, all the
time I play, I usually come to the net. And actually when I watch people stay
back, it is like, "Why are they doing that."

Q. Were you tired from yesterday match?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, wasn't tired.

Q. It was kind of late when it ended?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, it wasn't too late. It was about 9, I guess, that is not
late. Not to me. It had nothing to do with that.

Q. That was no factor in today's match?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No.

Q. Serena, you were originally going to play on the old Center Court; then
you got to play on the new Center Court. Your first time on there, what did
you think about that?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I played on it at the Arthur Ashe tennis thing and Kids Day.
It was really nice. A court is a court. The stadium is really nice and the
whole area around it is really nice, so, yeah --

Q. I guess there were more people there the last time?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah.

Q. You guys ever watch other women's teams play?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Not generally because they usually done put them on the big
courts. We really, at any tournament, can't go on the outside courts because
there are so many people and they don't really show it on TV, so...

Q. So it is hard to get a feel for your opponents most of the time?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. But we just don't want that much doubles.

Q. Venus, have you looked at your draw?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I have seen.

Q. What do you think?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think I have someone to play in the next round.

Q. I am sure you haven't played her before. Has anyone scouted her for you?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No.

Q. So you are just going to go out there and play your game?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah.

Q. Seeing that there aren't that many seeded players on your side, does that
make you step back and think a little about "I have got a real good shot now?"

VENUS WILLIAMS: Not really. I really don't try to look ahead of the draw too
much. If I play a seed or if I don't play a seed, I am still going to have to
play -- I am still going to play a person who is going to want to win.

Q. Normally do you just go out and play your own game, you don't scout
opponents?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, we don't.

Q. Compare your game now to where it was a couple of weeks ago, just how you
feel about yourself?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Couple weeks ago I don't think I was playing as well as I
could, especially in the matches, because I have definitely improved over
times since I wasn't playing well in matches. So, I had to improve these
things and I got some help from my family, my coach, things have improved in
matches.

Q. Was there anything in particular in between the last time you played a
match and the U.S. Open your first match that you were told or that you
adjusted that helped you the last few days?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't understand the question.

Q. In between when you lost to Anke in Manhattan Beach and your first round
match here, was there anything you picked up upon of your own game that
helped you improve upon for this week?

VENUS WILLIAMS: When I played Anke I really wasn't getting the first serves
in. I wasn't returning well. I was hitting a lot of short balls, took
advantage of that. I was hitting a lot of balls to her, short balls that were
to her, you can't help, but just take advantage of it. And, also she was
attacking my forehand, which was very weak at that time. Had a lot of spin on
it. Like a claycourter or something, and just wasn't a good thing. So I had
to adjust that and just get through it like I regularly would do. And, I
think this time, when I played her, she expected me to have the weak forehand
again which is not one of my characteristics regularly. And I didn't have
that this time.

Q. So you are stepping in more to the forehand or it is more just hitting
through, are you?

VENUS WILLIAMS: More just hitting through it.

Q. Serena, are you really looking forward to the day when you play a Tour
singles match?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I am looking forward to it pretty much.

Q. Any idea when it might be?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think I am playing two tournaments in November and one in
December -- two in December.

Q. Apart from the U.S. Open, do you get the opportunity to be together at
other tournaments, the two of you?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah.

Q. How do you two play together at home? I mean, when you spar, both of you
are playing against each other?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I didn't understand.

VENUS WILLIAMS: What happens when we practice at home? Do we hit against each
over? What is the arrangement?

SERENA WILLIAMS: When we practice at home we don't usually hit with each
other. My dad has hires hitters for us. We hit against different people or
sometimes we will hit against each other like two-on-ones. But on the road, I
don't think it is that much of a difference, no.