BNP PARIBAS FED CUP: USA VS POLAND

February 6, 2016

Mary Joe Fernandez
Venus Williams

Kailua Kona, Hawaii, USA

U.S.A./Poland

2-0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. First, congratulations. Second, how was the sun and the serve working
today?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, thank you. The sun was a little bit of a challenge, but
I think as the match went on I was able to adjust to it a lot more.

That's what have to do, you know.

Q. What were you able to change around at 4-5 in the first? Pretty much
dominated after that.
VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, she had some good shots; she played well; I had a
few errors.

I think I at 5-4 I was actually very relaxed. I think her strengths is
playing from behind. I think when she was in front it wasn't as comfortable
for her.

So just that game, I put some balls in, she missed a few, and at 5-All I
probably had more experience than she did.

Q. Older.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Much older.

Q. Mary Joe, getting two wins today, how important was that for you guys?
CAPTAIN FERNANDEZ: Very important. Each match is important. It's so much
better to go into the second day with the lead, but you still have to finish
the job.

We'll start with the first one with Venus playing at 10:00 and focus on that
one. But, yeah, it's huge to come through the two. There were tense moments
in both the first and second matches, so it was great to be able to get
through both of them.

Q. The two matches were up and down. Maybe not as dramatic the second match;
both were erratic. Do the conditions have anything to do with that? How much
do they have to do?
CAPTAIN FERNANDEZ: Well, I think both for Venus and Sloane, they haven't
played a singles match in quite a while. So it's getting back into that
rhythm and match play.

I've said this before: When you play Fed Cup it's a different type of
tension, a different type of expectation. You got to get in the moment. I
thought the crowd were phenomenal and got behind both players when the points
were important.

But I was really proud of how Sloane fought back in the second set. She
played some of her best tennis the last three or four games.

And how Venus stayed relaxed even when she was 5-4 and continued to apply
pressure and then played really well in the second set.

Q. Going back to Sloane, when you're a captain sitting there and all of
sudden the score is 3-zip, what kind of thoughts are going through your mind
to try and calm her or help?
CAPTAIN FERNANDEZ: Well, I try to look more at how the points are being
played. I don't look at the score as much. I felt that after the first set
where she was really dictating and attacking short balls, using her forehand
more, it changed.

I just tried to remind her of what was working and to try to get back to it
as quickly as possible. I felt she was in every game. She really had the
opportunity to go on that kind of run that she did. So it was just a
reminder, Okay, keep looking for the short ball; keep pushing her back.

Because once the points started to play according to the way Sloane needed to
play, it changed.

Q. Thank you, Venus, for all your good work today. In regular, individual
tennis you don't have the benefit of having a coach, captain sitting with
you. How is this different for you in Fed Cup where Mary Joe can be with you
on the changovers?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Definitely different. Definitely a positive. I think I'm just
a very even-keeled player, so hopefully that's easy on Mary Joe.

You know, just little pointers always help because sometimes you don't see
everything. So just to be able to have real-time corrections is very similar
actually to most other sports, you know?

CAPTAIN FERNANDEZ: Uh-huh.

Q. You talked yesterday about the element of fun you enjoy about Fed Cup.
Would you enjoy being a captain in the future?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think I could. Mary Joe works really hard. (Laughter.)

CAPTAIN FERNANDEZ: She could.

VENUS WILLIAMS: She's out every day in the sun. It's a lot of work.

CAPTAIN FERNANDEZ: It is, but she would make a phenomenal captain.

VENUS WILLIAMS: You deal with different personalities, so you have to have a
lot of the patience and energy and have to be able to inspire. It's not easy
shoes to be in, so...

Mary Joe thinks I can, so...

CAPTAIN FERNANDEZ: She could. As she said, she is very even-keeled. I think
she would make a phenomenal captain. She's the best role model and leader. I
think when you demand that respect and people look up to you it makes sense,
so...

Q. Venus, your response to that made me think of what you've brought to
tennis for the United States, you and your sister. I just wanted to thank you
for it.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Thank you.

Q. You've brought such highlights I don't think we've had in ever.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Thank you.

Q. You guys have a big day tomorrow but it's Super Bowl Sunday. Cheering for
a team? Have any predictions?
VENUS WILLIAMS: What time in the Super Bowl?

CAPTAIN FERNANDEZ: I didn't even know the Super Bowl was tomorrow.

Q. 1:30.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Is it 1:30? This is our Super Bowl right here. We can't play
for them and they can't play for us, so we'll be focused tomorrow.

If we finish, which we probably won't, we watch the game. Hopefully there
will be a replay somewhere at some point.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports