Venus Williams defeats Vasilisa Bardina
6-2, 6-1
2nd Round

AMY BINDER: Questions for Venus, please.

Q. Venus, can you just talk about really getting it done fast here today?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. It was under an hour, and she's a good player. She
actually generates a lot of speed and pace when she has the opportunity, so
for me it was about adding some spin and giving her less opportunities to
take control of the point, and of course, I feel more comfortable when I'm in
control of the point, which is the way I play.

Q. Venus, do you feel like you're -- you didn't have any flaws out there
today. Do you feel like your game is coming around really nicely?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I definitely feel like my game is coming around. I'm playing
good tennis. I think the only thing that holds me back sometimes is my
errors. Sometimes I make a few too many errors, and that has been my issue
the last two tournaments. And sometimes today also I felt like in some of the
games I'd make two or three errors and I really gotta cut back on that, but I
feel confident about my game and just have to be very, very consistent.

Q. Does this set you up for later in the week, the fewer sets that you have
to play, the fewer games you have to play set you up for later in the week
because day in and day out you're going to be playing.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. Definitely if I don't have to play two-hour matches
every day, but at the same time I'm in really good shape, so I can do that,
but I prefer definitely to be fresh for every match.

Q. Venus, you were on course to play Serena tomorrow, and we all know she had
to pull out. Were you disappointed that you won't play her or relieved? What
was your reaction?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I didn't know she had an injury, and she just emailed
me last night and said, "Do you know where Daddy is? Can you tell him to come
upstairs?" So I had already left the tennis because I had to play today, so I
didn't know if she was going to play or not, and I was looking on the
Internet to find her score. I was just as much trying to figure out was she
going to be okay, but she's a real champion and she tried, and it happens,
too. This is the first tournament on clay, and when you're sliding, it
happens. So it's just bad luck.

Q. Venus, can you talk a little about the difference in focus between
dominating a match versus, you know, having to be down in a match and then
come back?

VENUS WILLIAMS: The difference in focus. I think the focus can be the same
and you could be dominating or losing. I think a lot of times it's just
important to stay really relaxed and that helps you play good tennis.

Q. Venus, obviously it's still early, but do you feel like this is your year
as it was in '04 here?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, I'd love to. I really would. The rounds are passing by
nicely. I've got the third round, and after that is the quarterfinals, but
it's just really vital to stay focused on each round because nothing is a
given. No one is giving. I'd like it to be a given.

Q. Venus, if I could just follow up on Serena one more time. Were you
disappointed that you won't get to play her, because we were all looking
forward to seeing that match. Are you relieved that you don't have to play
her? How would you describe your reaction to that?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I just want her to get better soon because we play Fed Cup
obviously next week, which is an important tie for us, and we want to play
well for that, so since we couldn't play this week, definitely need her for
next week. So that's just how I feel. Thank you.

END OF INTERVIEW