STATE FARM EVERT CUP


March 13, 1998


Venus Williams

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA


VERONIQUE MARCHAL: Questions for Venus.


Q. What happened in the first set?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I believe I got a slow start. I was having my problems,
making too many errors. I was able to pull through it the best I could in the
second.


Q. What about this end so quickly, the end was very fast after so strong a
tiebreak, the last two points was very fast?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I remember the last point. I don't remember the point before
that one.


Q. The last two points was very --

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, yes. I remember the last one, that's all.


Q. Two mistakes?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah.


Q. What happened?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I guess I couldn't get the ball in.


Q. That's it?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, what else can I say? I made the mistakes. There's
nothing much I can do about them now. It's too late. I should have decided
not to make them in the tiebreak.


Q. Did you decide to make the mistakes?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Generally, I don't.


Q. After you beat her in Sydney, did you have a special game plan for today?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think my game plan was to cut down unforced errors. I was
unable to do that in the first set. That's no good. Actually, should have
started fast in the beginning, really ready. But I just wasn't able to do
that.


Q. When is your next tournament?

VENUS WILLIAMS: The Lipton, next week.


Q. What was the injury time-out, Venus?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I was having an elbow problem.


Q. Tendonitis?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think it's tendonitis, no. But I have to get
evaluated by the trainers to see exactly what it is. I don't know what it is.


Q. Did it affect you the rest of the match?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I was able to come through it, but I was definitely
having some problems there. I think everyone should be ready to play when
they go out to their matches. It's no excuse if you're having an injury.


Q. Was it something that bothered you for a while?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. Never had this before.


Q. Do you have a good luck charm?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, no. I don't have a good luck charm.


Q. Are you superstitious?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. Sometimes I like to sit in the same area. If that doesn't
happen, it doesn't bother me. Sometimes I like to do that. I shouldn't -- I'm
not superstitious at all.


Q. Today is Friday the 13th.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Pardon me?


Q. Today is Friday the 13th.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, no.


Q. Venus, had you had the opportunity, would you play against Lindsay instead
of Martina?

VENUS WILLIAMS: In the end, I would have played either one of them. I would
have played Lindsay tomorrow. I played her last week, two weeks ago. So in
the end, you have to play someone.


Q. Right.

VENUS WILLIAMS: You should just be ready.


Q. Wouldn't have been partial to either one?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. They're both close. Martina is No. 1. Lindsay is trying
to get there. They're both playing very well this year. They both have
different games.


Q. A year ago in Florida, Venus, you said ultimately that Serena would be
your toughest competition. Do you still feel that way, and could you explain
why?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, I still feel that way. Because I think that Serena and I
are doing our best to learn what to do during matches, to get better and to
get more experience. We're getting there definitely. We still have some ways
to go, a little bit. It should be easier for Serena to come through, since I
was the first one. She's come through a lot quicker than what I have.
Ultimately, Serena and I, I think we have all the skills it will take. I just
can't see anyone being better than us in the future. I think a lot of girls
will definitely be there. We see all the young girls coming through, doing
good. That is going to be motivation for us to really keep ourselves going.


Q. You said there's still some things to work on in your game. What are the
one or two things you'd like to work on immediately in your game?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think right now I really have everything down pat. Last
year during this time, there were a lot of things I needed to work on, like
my movement and my groundstrokes. This year, I think everything is solid. I
think right now I need to concentrate on taking it to the next level and
seeing do I really want to get to the top, am I really willing to do that
work? Am I going to be willing to make the sacrifices, to give it all? I
think right now, that's it for me. As Serena, you'll have to ask her.


Q. Are you convinced you and Serena have more likelihood to be No. 1 and 2
than anybody else on the Tour?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think so. I think Serena and I, that's our plan. We don't
see anyone else -- or we don't want anyone else to try to stop us.


Q. You say you have all the shots or you've got the game. In order to get
beyond where you are, you have to sacrifice. What is it you're going to have
to sacrifice?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think a lot of the players -- some players in the past, in
the Top 10, aren't really working to get to the No. 1 level. They just aren't
willing to really go out there and really give it their all, really do what
it takes to get to the top. It's not that no one want -- everyone wants to be
at the top. But are you willing to go to the next level? I have to ask myself
to see if I really want it.


Q. What do you have to give up?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think you have to give up anything.


Q. You said a moment ago you have to sacrifice.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Are we arguing now?


Q. Well, you said you have to sacrifice. Now you're saying you don't have to.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm saying, the top players, they do more than everyone else.
They work a little harder, put in the extra time. That's what the top players
do. That's what I've been doing to get to where I am now.


Q. What do you have to sacrifice to get to the top?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Everything.


Q. Striking similarity to some degree with the U.S. Open final. I remember
you reading notes during the final last year. You don't do that anymore. You
don't need that anymore?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I have my notes. I had them the other day. I had them in the
first set, but I didn't use them as much today.


Q. Venus, do you have a timetable for yourself as far as when you want to be
No. 1?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think it all depends on how much I play this year, to get
the amount of points needed to get to No. 1. But right now I think I should
just concentrate on getting better.


Q. What about the relationship with the other girls? You spend a lot of time
with your sister. You meet the other girls of the circuit, the other
professional players, or not?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I talk to the girls, see the girls all the time. I'm on
the Tour. Serena is my sister. I don't think people should expect me to go
out and find someone else different.

VERONIQUE MARCHAL: Any last questions for Venus?


Q. What in your mind makes Hingis tough? We talked about the future. But in
the present, is it she seems to be kind of steady, doesn't seem to have real
ups and downs?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, she really doesn't have ups and downs. Sometimes you
might -- she might get angry at herself and miss a shot. It's not like a lot
of other players will do, miss shots for three games. She's really working
hard to make sure she maintains her position. She maintained it today against
me. I'll look at myself and find out what I'm doing wrong. Obviously, she's
very serious, so I have to get more serious in the future, take her example.


Q. What is your confidence level now, Venus, do you look at this match and
say, "I lost this match," more so than Martina winning it?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I suppose if someone wanted to put it that way. The glass is
half full or half empty.


Q. Venus, you've had some wonderful wins already in the first few months of
the year, won your first tournament. How would you judge or assess the first
few months of the year for you?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm pretty happy about my accomplishments this year. Every
tournament I've got like to the quarters or better. What was I saying? I
think today, that I didn't win today, obviously I would have wanted to win.
I'm not the happiest that I would be if I had won. But then again, you can't
let it get too large to where winning is all that you have because I just
have to regroup and say, "Next match, I have to be better. Next match, this
is what I'm going to do." This is just the beginning for me, my first years.
I'm going to move on, get better, and I'll talk to y'all later.