WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

August 15, 2019

Venus Williams

Cincinnati, Ohio

V. WILLIAMS/D. Vekic

2-6, 6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. It was another tough one for you today. How did you turn it around?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think I just started out slow. That sometimes happens.

But she also played well. You could see that she was super determined and
wanted to get every ball in, ran for every shot and just forced the issue. I
realized who I was going to be up against today and just tried to dig in
deeper.

Q. At what point did you realize you needed a coffee on court today?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. It was what it was.

Q. In terms of your fitness training right now, obviously a couple of
grueling matches already, what does that look like for you?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I guess I'll see tomorrow if I get to be playing at
1:00. I feel like I'm putting out more effort than anybody in this draw right
now. So maybe I'll get lucky and get to play, like, third match or something.

Q. But in terms of your ratio of on-court to off-court, what is that ratio
like?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Probably like 50/50.

Q. At this point in the tournament, is it physical recovery or mental
recovery that's almost more important?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I mean, I'm pretty pumped. When you're winning, it's fun.
When you're losing, it sucks. I'm happy to be winning (smiling). Trying to
prevent the losses.

Q. Two days ago you said that one of your goals was to not be as hog wild on
court. How are you with that today, do you think?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. What did you think?

Q. I think you were pretty controlled. The ground game looked pretty good.
VENUS WILLIAMS: I tried. It's not easy out there.

Q. You have had a lot of tough matches against Simona in the past. If it's
her, how will you prepare for that match?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Get some rest, put the ball in the court, aces, that sort of
thing. We'll see what happens.

Q. Is there a particular Venus Williams unwinding routine that you have at
this point, or is it just kind of...
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, just chill with the dog and, you know, it's nothing too
specific. You just keep going and get ready the next day. Quick turnarounds
now in the tournament, back to back to back. Every player is going to be
facing the quick turnarounds now.

Q. As a growing vlogger, I'm curious if there is anything this week in
Cincinnati from an aesthetic or filmmaker's point of view that's caught your
eye?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I saw laser tag when I was getting off the highway.
Fun. Maybe I'll get there. Some cross-training.

Q. What was it like to have Serena in the crowd today?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Super fun. I mean, she's obviously taking time away from her
baby girl to come see me.

Q. She seemed to be very into it.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, she's more than into it, more than into it (smiling).
It's great to have that support. Obviously the support of my other sister
here, too, Isha. I am never alone, that's for sure.

Q. Who do you think gets more nervous watching who? Do you get more nervous
watching her or vice versa?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Honestly, she seemed pretty calm and chill. I think she
believed in me. She was rooting hard but didn't seem panicked at all after I
lost the first set. Maybe didn't play the best games at first the beginning
of the first and second. I thought if she can be chill, I can be chill. Yeah.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports