Day 6  - An interview with Venus Williams
Friday, June 2, 2006


 Q. Match by match you're working your way into this thing. Now you're into
the second week. What are your feelings about the progress you've made in
each of the matches? Do you think this was more of a plateau with your second
match?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think definitely this match was a challenge for sure. I
knew that going into it that it would be because she had nothing to lose and
I knew she'd come out just swinging as hard as she could.

I definitely think this is improvement on ? what is it, second round now ?
second?round match. I think my serve was better, my movement. Everything was
better. Definitely match by match just raising the level of my game for sure.

Q. If you're fit and healthy after Wimbledon, will you be available for the
Fed Cup team?

VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I haven't even talked to Zina about it yet. I've
been a little preoccupied with my little comeback. So that's a question that
is a little premature at the moment.

Q. You know that there will be some pressure on you to play because it's
essentially for the title. It's Belgium. They've got their two best players,
and we've got some players that aren't completely healthy right now.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Right, right. It would be nice to ?? if I do have the
opportunity to play on the team, to play with another strong player, another
top player. It would be nice.

But, you know, under the circumstances that I am on the team, whoever I play
with, I know we will give it our best shot. That's the way it is.

Q. You will play against Schnyder, like in Rome. Can you speak about this
match for you.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, we had a good match in Rome. She played very well. She
looks pretty confident on the court. I feel like this is definitely a
challenge that I'll be able to hopefully come good on.

Q. Is it difficult to play against her because she's left?handed and she
slice a lot of her backhand?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Is it ?? well, I always have a lot of fun playing against
her. We've had a few close matches. You know, definitely, her game is much
different than most players on tour so that makes her very unique in the
sense that there's a good chance you may not play someone who plays like her.

Q. Do warmer conditions help your game, or does it not make a whole lot of
difference?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Warmer conditions I think helps everyone at the French Open.
I was just expecting it to be cold again because that was the trend. It was
nice that the trend was broken.

Q. You're playing fourth round on Sunday. Is playing on Sunday something
specific for you?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Not at all, no.

Q. Usually you play finals on Sunday.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I know, huh. Well, this time it's fourth round, and I'm happy
that I've made it this far. I'd like to take it a little further.

Q. How much more does Patty make you think about your tennis rather than just
go out there and try to physically beat somebody up on the court?

VENUS WILLIAMS: To be honest, I've never been in the habit of, like, changing
my game just because of who I was playing. I do most certainly try to just
play the best of my ability and my game. I don't necessarily go out there and
get intimidated and change my whole game completely, no.

Q. It's one thing to start to feel your strokes coming back, your serve, your
rhythm. But players say it takes their match toughness a while to get back.
Where do you feel you are in terms of match toughness right now?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I definitely feel really good because I think a lot of
toughness is what got me to this point here, to where I am today. Every
player has been a challenge, and so I feel, you know, when push comes to
shove that I'm really going to stay in there, definitely.

Q. You said a minute ago this is your "little comeback." Do you consider this
sort of a comeback?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I've been off a little while. It's just, like I said,
just I've been really preoccupied the last, what is this, four weeks, five
weeks, with just staying healthy. Especially coming back after a few months
off on the clay, it's easy to get injured and it's so much more demanding.
I've definitely been very occupied with self.

Q. Any clarification on the Bollettieri situation with your sister?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I haven't talked to her yet, no.

Q. Not a lot of matches under your belt from the beginning of the year. Do
you think it's enough to win here?

VENUS WILLIAMS: In Warsaw I was very excited when I got to two wins and one
loss because I finally had more wins than losses. That was a great turning
point.

Definitely now I have more wins than losses. At this point, I feel like I
should definitely know what I'm doing on the court. At this point, it's not
necessarily about winning, it's definitely about the fourth round. That's my
main focus at this point.

Q. You've already been asked a question about Fed Cup from the American point
of view. I'm from Belgium. Would it have made any difference if Belgium had
chosen for clay court? Would this have influenced your decision? You still
have to think about it.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Like I said, I've just been really trying to stay healthy and
really play well, and that's been my main focus. I haven't really thought as
far as Fed Cup.

But no matter what it is, I feel like I've been taught that, you know, no
fear, step up. That's the way my parents taught me. So I have no reason to be
afraid of clay courts.

Q. The succession of injuries that you've had and lost time, has it made you
even more concerned about your scheduling and taking the appropriate amount
of time off between the big tournaments, not just the Slams but the
million?dollar?plus tournaments as well?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I think I try to play a reasonable schedule. I've just
had some bad luck.

I think that most certainly I will always plan my schedule to the best of my
ability so that way I can be on tour because I love doing what I do. This is
my job.

But, no, I don't think it was scheduling.

Q. This is your 10th Roland Garros. What do you feel about that?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I can't believe it (smiling). That number's wrong.

No, ten tries and, you know, came close before. But I really do enjoy playing
on the clay, so I think that I have a lot of good memories here and I'd like
to add some more.

Q. There used to be some times when a Williams press conference was always
full. Now we're sitting here not even 15 people. How does that make you feel?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, uhm, normally it's more full like towards the end of
the tournament. That's the way it always is, so, especially when you play a
seeded player, too, so.

Q. You're on the Players' Council. What are your thoughts on the WTA
Championships moving to Madrid and just the model of having a championship
that moves around? LA started to get some attraction towards the end, but it
struggled.

VENUS WILLIAMS: What are my thoughts? What's the question?

Q. Of having a year?end championship that moves around versus staying in one
place for a period of time.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm definitely not an expert. Obviously, there's a lot of
great markets that women's tennis can go to. With that in mind, it's
definitely a good idea, something that could succeed. As far as how to make
it work, don't ask me. Just, you know, get the players there. Hopefully I'll
qualify ? had a late start (smiling).

Q. Do you practice during the day off?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, I sure ?? I practice during the day off always unless
something's really hurting. But, yeah, I practice.

Q. Clearly, your ambition is to win the title for the very first time. Do you
feel that you're playing at the level now that might realize that ambition?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Am I playing the level now? I always feel like it's not
necessarily about playing at exactly where you want to be, it's just about
when you're in that match doing what it takes, even if you don't feel like
your game's a hundred percent.

So whether or not I'm, you know, at my ultimate peak or somewhere in the
middle, I still feel like I know how to do and what to do to make it happen
in each match, and that's my honest answer.

Q. Looking back at the other night, kind of crazy finish in the dark and all
that stuff, does it seem unreal or strange or goofy? How would you describe
the way it ended up?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I was just happy to get on. Very happy to get on. I felt a
little disappointed in myself that I got down the 4?Love then the 7?6 when I
thought, Possibly this could have been over right now. I've come through some
traumatic times. Little bit of trauma to get here.

Q. How well could you see the ball at the very end?

VENUS WILLIAMS: At the very end it was definitely very dark, but you can see
the ball for sure. I could.

Q. Is it special for you because you are only American in the top right now?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Is it special, uhm, I mean, when I do give a little thought
to it, it's a little bit lonely. You know, used to having Serena here or
Lindsay or Andre or, you know, maybe Andy or obviously, you know, maybe
Jennifer when she was healthy. So it is a little strange, yes. That's
probably why I keep getting that fourth match on because of the U.S.

But I'm not complaining. I'm happy to be here and not injured.