U.S. OPEN

August 25, 2012

Venus Williams

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

THE MODERATOR:  Questions, please.

Q.  How does it feel to be back after having to withdraw from the tournament
last year with Sjogren's syndrome?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Last year it was a definitely a tough year.  I've come a
long way in that one year.  It's great to be back and feeling a lot better.
 Now I feel like I can play.  Last year was just a real struggle.
So I'm happy to have progressed and be in this tournament.

Q.  How did the Olympics, if at all, affect your preparation for the hard
court season?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  The Olympics was amazing.  Like I feel like I played my best
tennis of the year at the Olympics.  I was extremely excited going into
Cincinnati.  I was just, I couldn't wait to play, so it really gave me a
boost, I think, and gave me like just all this excitement about getting out
back on the court.

Q.  How does one keep their body prepared going straight from the Olympics to
something like this?  How do you keep your body in shape?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Well, lots of prayer.  But just try to stay fit and stay in
the gym and do a lot of prevention, stay strong.  I mean, a lot of unforeseen
things do happen.  That's life.

Q.  Given everything, do you feel like maybe a rejuvenation mentally, just to
break away from things has had a rejuvenating effect on you?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Well, it was a break, but I worked really hard during that
break.  So there was definitely a lot.  I almost needed a break from the
break.  (Laughter.)
A lot of things were happening in my life during that time.  Of course I'm
grateful.  I love tennis.  I got to do what I wanted to do the most:  be at
the Olympics.  That was my whole dream this year.  Being able to do that for
she was just, I feel really blessed.

Q.  How does making your great run in Cincinnati, making the semifinals
there, how does that change your expectations or mindset at all coming into
this tournament?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Well, it's just all about giving 100% on every point for me.
 That's what I did in Cincinnati.  Every point I gave everything I possibly
could, and I think that helped me with the great results.  I played a lot of
great players in that tournament.
I think that should give me confidence going into my matches.  And more than
anything I just want to step into each match and treat it the same way I did
in Cincinnati.

Q.  One of your Olympic brethren, Gabby Douglas, she's America's golden child
right now, she came under some fire that was unnecessary about her hair.  You
and your sister.  It was something people talked about when you first came
into tennis.  Where was your opinion when you heard the mention about Gabby?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  See, I was in London.  They didn't talk about her hair there
so I didn't hear about that.
I'm a little late to the --the stories in London were all about the English
people.  It was a different perspective where I was.

Q.  But now maybe you're stateside and have heard a little bit about it,
what's your opinion about it?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  I didn't really hear about it.  I'm not sure.  I think she's
gorgeous.  At her age, let me tell you, I was not looking that great.  I
think she looks amazing.  More than anything, she lived her dream and
performed well.
There's only a handful of people that can do that.  I'm very proud of her
because of that.

Q.  How is your back doing since Cincinnati?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Yes, since Cincinnati I have been back on the road to
recovery.  I'm not 100%, but I'm going to try to get as close to 100% for my
match.  That injury was totally unexpected.  I have never ever had a back
problem.
It was like, Wow.  It was crazy.  But I tried my best to get through it
during that match because I really wanted to be in the final.  Didn't work
out for me, but I will try to do it here.

Q.  What exactly is the problem and how is it limiting you in your
preparation given that you said you're not 100%?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Well, I didn't start hitting serves until Thursday.  What is
today?  Saturday?  (Laughter.)
Yeah, so I had to take it easy, you know, leading up to the tournament.  I
have had just kind of a soft preparation.
But I feel good about my game.  That's the most important thing going into
the tournament.  I think with injuries you have to start to get used to the
pain.  So I think that's pretty much what it's going to be for me:  just get
used to it and keep going.

Q.  Can you talk about some of your offcourt business ventures?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Well, of course I have EleVen which I wear on the court, and
I have and interior design company too.  We do pretty much 100% commercial
designs, so like hotels or different things like that.  So that keeps me busy.
But I have a great team, so it helps.

Q.  Kim Clijsters was in a moment or two ago.  She said when your sister,
Serena, is at the peak of her form and in good shape that she regards her as
the best player ever.  I just wonder, what are your thoughts on that?  Is it
possible for you to detach yourself and make a verdict?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Yeah, she's amazing.  I think when she's playing great and
feeling confident - even when she isn't - it still takes a hurricane to beat
her.  You have to be on your best tennis and basically make no errors.  I
think her record speaks for what an amazing player she is.

Q.  Can you flashback to 2000, 2001 your title runs, and talk about some of
the things you remember?  That was quite some time ago.
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Yeah.

Q.  Decades.
VENUS WILLIAMS:  I remember in 2000 I went to sit in my chair in the
quarterfinals and I missed it completely and fell on the ground.  That's a
funny memory.  I remember that final 2000, and Lindsay played so well.  I
remember having to change my game plan completely and having to come back in
that match.
It was very satisfying because I felt like we both played amazing.  To play a
match where you play well and your opponent played well is great.  I think
the next time was the first time Serena and I played each other in a major
tournament.  That was very monumental for us, because growing up we were
saying, Yeah, we're going to do this, and then when it happens it's a big
deal for our whole family and tennis and American tennis.
I think those were definitely years where the game was growing and changing.

Q.  Did you feel looking back, going on that court against her, did you feel
uncomfortable at all?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Yeah, I wanted to win.  That sums it up.  I think she did
to.  I'm good I got the title.  She got another one the next year.

Q.  You have offcourt ventures, success on court, The New York Times pegged
you against the world.  What is next?  What's next for the Williams sisters?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Next for me, I had a big life change.  Whereas I used to do
a lot of things for myself, you know, I was very, very hands on with my
businesses, but now I have like taken more of a back seat and just do most
important role, which is not be such a busybody or control freak.
I focus a lot on my tennis and I try to get a lot of rest.  So in order for
me to do this well, I have to --my life is changed, so I just try to focus a
lot more on saving energy for tennis.  I'm not trying to conquer anything
else.  I'm tired.

Q.  Has anything in your life being in the face of your illness?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Yeah, a lot of people come up to me and tell me how, you
know, they have the disease or their daughter has the disease or now my
husband believes that I'm sick, because a lot of people with autoimmune
disease they look healthy but inside they don't feel well at all.
I think it helps a lot of people to get diagnosed earlier and to feel better
sooner or just to have a reason why you feel that way helps a lot.  So I'd
like to think that's what it does.

Q.  Did you have any reservations about the disease, other players, Trump
cards trying to capitalize on it?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Yeah, I mean, I would've liked to have kept it privately,
but it didn't work out that way for me.  In the end, I think it happened the
best way that it could.  So it's good to be honest sometimes.

Q.  In your quarter, how do you approach those players when you play them
again?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  I try to learn from my mistakes.  I try to get the win.  I
think it's pretty simple and try to bring my best game.

Q.  Can you compare and contrast your mindset coming into here when you knew
you were suffering from this disease and you didn't know what was going to
happen versus this year coming in?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Yeah.  I mean, last summer everything was so hard so
everything was very difficult.  Just so hard.  Everything was hard.  I didn't
understand why.
And then just being at the tournament, every day I just wanted to quit at
practice.  I would tell myself, Maybe tomorrow I'll feel better.  Just keep
going.  So it was very difficult.
This year when I practice I don't want to quit.  It's a huge difference.  To
be in a major and just like want to walk off the court is tough.  I have come
a long way thanks to my doctors and everything else.  It's great.

Q.  Describe the Open and what New York City brings to this unique event.
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Yeah, US Open, it's loud and crazy and big, and pretty much
very important for the American players because it's our major at home.
You know, everybody knows about New York City.  It's just a mental test here
to finish the year and to get through everything that's like all around you
the whole time.

Q.  Did it come to your mind that you're going to retire, and if so, would
you like to retire first or you like Serena to retire first?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Oh, God.  Maybe we will retire together.  Hopefully she
feels the same way.

Q.  You talked about American tennis.  This year you spent a bunch of time
with Christina McHale and Sloane Stephens.  They both had big breakout
tournaments.  Can you compare them?  The personalities are very different.
VENUS WILLIAMS:  I think their games are both developing.  They're still
developing their shots.  They have a lot of variety and are getting stronger.
 I think now it's just a beginning for both of them.
Continuing to improve their serve and groundstrokes and mental toughness.
 It's just the beginning for them.  I think they do everything well.  They
play match tough.  This year for Sloane also has been a great year.  She's
had the opportunity to play a lot of matches and learn a lot, and Christina
has just been progressing.
That's great for American tennis, for Fed Cup, and all that stuff.  It's
great to see that.

Q.  Do you know if the future is in good hands for them?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Absolutely.  The sky's the limit.  Sky's the limit for sure.
 Just keep progressing.  As long as they stay healthy they will do well.

Q.  Kim Clijsters said if she won the US Open she wouldn't come back.  I'm
just wondering what's your motivation?  Is it the adrenaline rush?  Being out
there?  What keeps you going?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  I think we have different priorities.  She wants to have
more family, and I...  Yeah.  (Laughter.)  Yeah.
So I think that's the difference probably us.  I really love tennis, and I
feel like I have so much to give, especially since I have had my health
problems.  I feel like I can't let anything take me down.  I have to beat
this.
So for me, this is what it's all about is beating this.  And not just for me,
but for everyone who has felt ill or sick and wants to return back to what
they were.  For me, I have a lot to prove to myself.

Q.  Has it been a lifestyle change or more rest or medicines?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  All of the above.  Thank God for medicine, right?  But
medicine, it takes time to find the right combinations and try different
things, you know.  The main medicine for my disease takes six months before
it kicks in, so you're sitting at home like, What month is it now?  (Smiling.)
It's a long process, and you definitely learn to change your life.  You have
to learn to accept limitations and accept that maybe you don't recover from--
you know, other people can do other things that maybe for me is not going to
help my tennis if I'm all over the place.
Now I like this life better because it's easier for me.  I know I can't do
that because I have to save my energy.  I can say no to a lot more stuff.
 It's great.

Q.  Exactly how many months were you feeling tired before the doctors could
pinpoint what the disease was?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Years.  Years.

Q.  Like starting what year?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  The main year for me was 2007 when I really started to feel
tired.

Q.  You still won Wimbledon 2008.
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Yes.

Q.  Then was it worse year after year after year?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  I just didn't know what was wrong with me.  I just had to
get a lot worse before I could get diagnosed.  I had different diagnoses,
like asthma.  One doctor told me that maybe I should go see a psychiatrist.
I want to go back to him.  I watch a lot of the Golden Girls.  There is
episode where Dorothy has chronic fatigue syndrome, and the doctor tells her
to go buy a new dress or whatever.
She goes back to him and tells him off. I want to go to that doctor and say,
I had something real.  Don't go see a tell me to see a psychiatrist.
 Something is wrong with me.  So I want to go see him.

Q.  A lot of the news that came out of the Olympics about women, it was
pretty negative.  What was your view of women and the Olympics and their
performance?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  I didn't hear that news either.

Q.  Wasn't performance based.  I'm asking the women that you saw, what was
your opinion on their performance over in London?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Well, the Olympics is for sure about performing your
personal best, but it's also about participation.  It's about feeling a part
of something bigger than what you ever can be alone.
I think so many women perform well -- so many men did, as well-- but it's
like not even the point.  It's about the Olympic moment for me.  That's how I
felt when I was there.

Q.  What's one event that sticks out in your mind?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  I watched a lot of archery, beach volley ball, ping-pong,
badminton.  I watched everything that I could see.  I started watching
rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming.
Yeah, I watched a lot of stuff.

Q.  You were speaking before about Kim.  What does Kim mean to the tour and
what does she mean to you personally?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Kim has, you know, had a resurgence like no other coming
back winning two majors.  I'm sure if she hadn't had injuries she would have
been able to do more and even live more of a dream at the Olympics when you
bring home a medal.
I think she's inspiration for everyone who has said, If you put your mind to
it you have a dream you can do whatever you want and do all the things that
you want.
So I think she's done that.  I think for me that just is motivation for me.

Q.  Have you had a chance to read a New York Times magazine article yet?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  Not yet.

Q.  After the Olympics do you feel like everything is gravy?  It was such a
big push for you to make the team.  Are you kicked into different sort of
expectations?
VENUS WILLIAMS:  When you say Olympics, my heart is, Oh, my god, because that
was amazing for me.  It was definitely a kick start for me.  I feel like my
game has improved a lot.  I just need time.
For me this year it's about figuring everything out, and maybe the rest of my
career will be.  I love it, and I'm having a great time.

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