U.S. OPEN


September 1, 2010


Venus Williams

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK


V. WILLIAMS/R. Marino
7-6, 6-3


THE MODERATOR: Questions for Venus.

Q. Was it very hot today to play?
VENUS WILLIAMS: It was an interesting day. Not as easy to get a rhythm today
because, you know, she served so big and just kind of go for the first shot,
and it was really windy, too.
Matches like this, it's just good to, you know, try to play as clean as
possible. Try to hopefully get a break and kind of close it out and kind of
leave the conditions behind.

Q. Congratulations on your book and your clothing. Are you happy with the way
things are going?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, things are going well. I'm getting to live my dream
every day, add more and more to my dreams. I'm a hard-working woman.

Q. Did you have a toss issue?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Uhm, well, if I don't like the toss, then I retoss it.
Basically what it is.

Q. Sorry for maybe a strange question. We in Russia are celebrating 10 years
of success in tennis. Just want to know what do you think about Russian
tennis in whole, and 10 years of Russian participation in particular?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I mean, tennis has been revolutionary in Russia in the last I
guess 10 years or so. So many great players. I mean, medals at Olympics. You
know, Kafelnikov, Dementieva, Safina. So many great people really playing
well.
So it's great that they represent their country so well.

Q. You now have played two matches after the two-month layoff. How are you
feeling physically, and how far along are you in getting rid of whatever rust
you may have had from that layoff?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm really just going match by match. Each match I want to
win, so I'm not really thinking about, Oh, you know, kind of dusting off any
rust, you know, where I might be. I'm just really trying to bring my best to
that match.
So I'm really not trying to measure myself against anything I've done before
or what anyone else is doing in this tournament.

Q. What is your level of satisfaction with how your body has responded to the
demands of playing two matches, today under great heat and circumstances?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, so far I feel good. I made a quick turnaround this
summer to try to get ready for the Open. So, uhm, you know, I'm glad that I'm
just in the singles. That way I have the opportunity to recover between
rounds and to get ready to play the next one.

Q. What feedback have you gotten from Serena, if any?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, that's between Serena and I (laughter).
But, you know, she's always very positive.

Q. Did you happen to see what happened to Azarenka this morning?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I didn't.

Q. She apparently had fallen in the gym.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I heard she had some bad luck. I don't know what
happened.

Q. There's been a lot of conversation about the heat because the thermometer
shows it to be very hot. This question comes up with a lot of the players
here. We're hearing that out there on Ashe with the wind, it isn't maybe as
difficult as one might think looking at a thermometer. Would you agree with
that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: The air helps. It keeps the wind moving. When you first walk
out there it feels soupy. I think in my match the wind picked up a lot, so it
probably helped.

Q. Back to your book. It's a fabulous book. Have you ever thought about
turning it into a documentary? Because I think it would be a great tool for
kids in high school to learn about life issues and how to cope with that.
Have you thought about that or been approached?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. Sounds like a good idea (smiling). Keep me working. So,
you know, I have to explore that.
Obviously, to have it in written form, but also to reach people who may not
read as much through our outlets would be really good. Kind of take on
another form.

Q. When a person who has won as many tournaments and games as you have in
professional tennis approaches something like the US Open, is it proven
experience, training, or desire to win that gets you through?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think all three. Whatever it takes for me to get through,
even if it's trying something new, I'm down for it.

Q. Is there any different preparation that you have before a match when you
know it's going to be a very hot day like today? Does anything change?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Not really. I mean, try not to spend too much time on the
practice court, drink a lot, so...
Nothing too different. Just try to be smart and hopefully win quick.

Q. Did you have a chance to see Roger Federer's shot between his legs the
other night?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I haven't. But I heard he hits one every year, so...

Q. Is that something you've tried?
VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, my dad would teach us that shot, but Serena and I
weren't really keen on learning it. So I think it's something you kind of
want to learn as a kid, and you keep trying it and trying it.
We'd do it a little bit, and he could do it, but I guess we didn't see the
value. I guess there is value in it now.

End of FastScripts