NASDAQ-100 OPEN

March 24, 2003

Venus Williams

KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA

THE MODERATOR: First question for Venus, please.

Q. Does it cushion the disappointment a little bit the way you fought at the
end at least?

VENUS WILLIAMS: It's always disappointing to lose but, you know, I think she
played real well and stayed in there. You know, she hit a lot of good shots.

Q. Do you think you underestimated her at all?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, not at all. Not at all. I had a pretty good start. You
know, it's impossible to win every match. I tried. But I couldn't seem to get
the ball to go in today.

Q. Was wind a huge factor?

VENUS WILLIAMS: The wind? No.

Q. How well do you think you played?

VENUS WILLIAMS: So and so. I think that if I played really well, then there
was a really good chance that I would have won the match for sure. But more
than anything, I think, you know, she played some real good tennis.

Q. How close did you feel like you were to digging out of that hole there at
the end?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I definitely felt that if I could have won a game or two, you
know, I would have had a nice chance to get back into the match. And, you
know, all I can do is just give her some credit for playing well.

Q. You saved eight matchpoints. Were you thinking, "I can definitely do this"
by that point, at that point?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I always felt that I could do it until I ran out of
time. Then, of course, this is the end, so all I can do is just prepare for
the clay court season now.

Q. How do your knees feel?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Feeling good.

Q. Was Serena here watching you?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think so.

Q. How different is she than when you've played her in the past? She's
obviously bulked up. Is that noticeable in her game?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think she's the same.

Q. What is your clay court schedule?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Just going to go over to Europe in the beginning of May.

Q. So nothing here?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No.

Q. But Fed Cup?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, I am in Federation Cup.

Q. You lose so infrequently. Is it a little shocking to yourself when you do?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Sure, because I'm not preparing to lose when I'm on the
practice court or in the match. I'm not playing to hope to win; I do have the
expectation, of course, that the match will be a win for me. More than
anything, I think, you know, once I have a loss, then I'm able to go out and
work harder. So it's just back to the drawing board.

Q. Do you go back to work now at the design firm, or do you hang around and
watch Serena?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm going to practice, pretty much.

Q. Can you enjoy a match like that? I mean, obviously it's more enjoyable if
you're winning. But a match where you really have to fight, someone's making
you play better and better as the match goes on, can you enjoy that?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Sure, I enjoy to compete. That's the whole thing of tennis.
If you don't like to compete, then it's not a good sport to be in.