coluchka

S. WILLIAMS/M. Bartoli 6-3, 6-4 THE MODERATOR: Questions, please. Q. What caused you to lose focus on the first two points? SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't think I lost focus. I don't think I lost focus because it was in the beginning of the match. Q. For you what was the key of this match? SERENA WILLIAMS: I think the key was definitely being able to hold serve. She has a good return and she was actually serving better, I thought today, than she had in maybe some Wimbledons, because I saw her play in Wimbledon. I thought her serves were much faster. Q. Can you talk about possibly playing Justine. Third time you guys have played in a Slam this year. How do you feel you're going into that match against her? SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, I'm going in feeling like I don't have anything to lose. I just feel different now. Excited about the prospect of meeting her again. Q. If you do play Justine, do you think this surface is the best surface for that matchup for you? SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't really care what surface I play on. So I mean, US Open now, so I don't I don't think about it that way. Q. Where would you put your level at now after four matches? SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm definitely better than I was in my first match. Each match I feel like that I've gotten better. I'm still not where I want to be or near. But I feel like I'm doing better, which is important. Q. Just talk about the thumb and the effect on a two handed backhand? Any residual? SERENA WILLIAMS: No. I don't have any pain when I hit a backhand at all. Not at all. I've been really, really excited that I don't have anything. Q. When did the pain finally go away and how much of a relief was it? SERENA WILLIAMS: I think it went away probably right during the tournament or when the tournament started, because I don't remember having much pain in my first round, or I don't remember. Maybe a little bit but not much. Just it's been really good, and I've been really, really happy about that. Q. Have you lost your voice a little bit? You sound a little hoarse. SERENA WILLIAMS: Do I? Q. Yeah. SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know why. I didn't scream too much today. Q. Is there anything else that might be physically affecting you right now? The thumb is okay, but is there something that we're not seeing that might be affecting your focus? SERENA WILLIAMS: There are a lot things that I think affects everyone. I would be the last person to tell you just in case Justine or Safina reads it, and they're like, Oh, I know what to do. Q. You're very good at coming back and playing great after not playing for a long time. What advice would you give as the secret to do that? SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I think it's important for players to have match play. I would have preferred to have Pilot Pen or L.A. or at least one tournament under my belt going into this because I think it just makes it a little bit easier. Just fight. That's the only thing I can say. Q. Your serve in Australia was really key to your win there. Did you start to feel that kind of rhythm in your match today on your serve? SERENA WILLIAMS: I definitely felt a lot better on my serve today, especially against her because she's actually a really good returner. So I felt that my serve was actually a lot better today than had been in my previous matches. It's on track. I want it to just keep getting better with each round, especially now with the quarterfinals. Q. You said before you feel different now, is that just physically or is there an emotional component to that, too? SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I don't know when I said "I feel different now." Q. Just at the start of this interview. SERENA WILLIAMS: Did I? Q. As opposed to the other times you were getting ready to play Justine. SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh. I can't keep up with what I say on a daily basis. I might have been just jabbering at my lips. Might have just been filling space. Q. I guess maybe are you more confident now or something like that? Do you feel better about your game going into this match with Justine? SERENA WILLIAMS: At Wimbledon I couldn't hit a backhand, so I'm very confident in that fact that I'll be able to do that. I was really proud of myself to get that far because I had to take six weeks after, so I was thinking how in the world did I even play? Just having that confidence is always positive.She played well at the French. I don't think I played well, but I think she did and she was really focused. It's just a new start for me. Q. Did you ever get an explanation or were you offered an explanation about the other official's concerns about the notebook or is that just a closed issue? SERENA WILLIAMS: The guy apparently he's an officially for the ATP Tour and he got confused because I was playing so well. He thought I was playing on the ATP Tour, and so he got that confused. So he got that confused. On that tour I guess you're not allowed to have notes. I don't know. I don't play on that tour. I'm assuming that's what the rule is. I think he got confused. He was really impressed with my serve. Q. Do you then have an understanding it if it's okay that you do some reading in the match now? SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, it's definitely okay. I mean, it's something I've done my whole career. I'm not one to I never got signals or any of that stuff. Pretty much when I'm out there, even when they have the coaching, I hate to call out coach when they have them. Sometimes I do, but I never really want to. So I'm always out there by myself and that helps me to stay focused. Q. Outside of Venus Justine's played you tougher than any other player of your generation. Talk about that and why the rivalry has become so special. SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, she's playing well and she's fighting for everything. She kind of believes that she can win, and maybe that's what makes that special. Q. What was it like playing with that thumb against her at Wimbledon? SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know how I played. Like I wasn't going to play, and then like the doctors were like, Oh -- when I injured my calf they're like, You shouldn't play. Then when I injured the thumb they were like, You can play. They had it was vice versa, so I probably shouldn't have played. They were like, Okay, well, you can play. We don't see anything wrong. I'm like, Okay. I'll play. And with the calf they were like, Don't go back out, and I totally could have. Are you guys following me? Okay. So honestly I really think my slice is a lot better than it was at Wimbledon. I had a terrible slice back then. I don't know. Again, I just don't know how I was able to compete on any level being how -- seeing how bad it was when I went to see a hand specialist in the U.S. Like seeing the degree and the level of it I was really shocked, and impressed. Q. What exactly what was medical diagnosis? SERENA WILLIAMS: I had a really bad sprain in my ligament. It's common with football players for like safeties or whatever position. They kind of grab the helmet and the thumb kind of goes back. They never see this injury like outside of football players, so it was really strange. Like I said, I went to a specialist and he was able to diagnose it well. Q. Is that the guy in L.A.? SERENA WILLIAMS: No. It was a different guy. And I just had to be like in a splint without moving it. Always had my thumb up, so it was weird. Q. You're bringing football injuries to the sport of tennis. SERENA WILLIAMS: Right. Q. How hard it was being out all of six weeks? I think you came to watch James at a tournament. Was that hard watching, or do you get inspired watching him again? SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, it was really difficult because I was on a roll and I felt like I was going to win Wimbledon. I felt like I was just going to do big things in the summer. I wanted to win the thing where you can double your money here. I was really ready to play, and I felt like, you know, when I final dedicate myself this happens. So it was actually frustrating and I had to get over -- mentally I just had to like just pull myself back and be like it's going to be okay, because it was really hard. I felt like I was working so hard, and to have another setback was frustrating to say the least. Q. In the locker room of the quarterfinal of Wimbledon, Venus said that you talked to her and kind of gave her a pep talk. Like, Do it for me because I don't know if I'm going to be able to do it. Do you guys talk about who's going to win semifinal the end of year Grand Slam titles, because you're each tied at one now. SERENA WILLIAMS: No. Well, we don't talk about that. We're pretty focused on both of our matches. Obviously I want nothing but the best for her and she wants nothing but the best for me, unless of course we're playing each other. Then it's like, Okay I want to win. That's how we look at it. Q. So Serena, level wise you're saying you're going to have to get a lot better. How much better? If Justine plays her best, what do you have to go, 20, 30% from where you were today? SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, I'm playing better each round. I'm not trying to peak until I can get to the finals, and that's when I really bring my A game out. I feel like I can do it if I'm there. Q. But this could be a final. If your seeding was a little higher you're talking about you have the eight Slams and Justine has six. If you're at opposite ends of draw it's a potential final. SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, V has six, too. Q. Will you be able to attend the African American parade held once a year in Harlem? SERENA WILLIAMS: The African American gay parade? Q. The African American parade in Harlem. SERENA WILLIAMS: Because there is the other parade going on. No, I won't be able to attend any parades. I'm very focused on my tennis. Q. Because the community miss you a lot. SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I'm trying to stay out there and just do the best I can on the court.

candids L.A. 09/01

candids L.A. 09/01

2R

V. WILLIAMS/A. Bondarenko 6‑1, 6‑2 THE MODERATOR: Questions, please. Q. Talk about the match. Almost everything was going well, except for the serve, right? VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. I definitely would like to have a higher first‑serve percentage. But it's not something that I'm worried about. I still feel like I can get my serve in. My second serve nowadays has a lot of kick. Definitely bouncing really high. So it was a good day. Q. And the return game was real strong. You were stepping in pretty well, taking control of the serves. VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I mean, it's just coming. I know I'm going to go for it. But a lot of times I'm just hitting it and it comes. So it's nice that it comes naturally. Q. The way you're playing, you're so calm and relaxed, not having a lot of trouble out there, it's kind of a contrast to your sister. I don't know what you notice when you watch her play. Is that because your personalities are kind of that way or because of where you are right now in this summer of tennis? VENUS WILLIAMS: I got to see some of the second set of her match. I was getting ready. I was thinking, oh, I shouldn't watch this so I don't get tight for my own match. It was kind of a back and forth of "should I?" or "shouldn't I?" She's obviously is an unbelievable competitor. When push comes to shove, she shoves (smiling). I'm not too worried about whether or not she's going to make it. As for me, I just feel like I win all the important points and that really makes a big difference in obviously how my opponent feels playing against me, how I feel obviously about the match, too. Q. When you are this calm and playing this well, is there sort of a cracking point that when you get into a tight match, How do I handle it now? VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I definitely think I've played a lot this summer and definitely been in some tight moments ‑ not only at Wimbledon but also Fed Cup. I definitely feel like I have those moments under my belt. I don't need to necessarily experience something yet again to learn. So it's all good. Q. Looked like you came out swinging, let it go all night. VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, definitely told myself I can play, I know what I'm doing, to go out there and execute. That's pretty much my game plan. Q. When was the last time you felt this good about your game in the first week of a Grand Slam? VENUS WILLIAMS: Let's see. I mean, at Wimbledon I felt I guess more than anything just determined. A lot of times I didn't feel like I was perfect, but I felt really good. The French Open wasn't a good time for me. I wasn't very healthy. I don't know. Then after that I missed Slams. So this definitely is nice. Q. So it's been a while? VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, to be honest, I always feel like I can do it. I always feel confident, like I go into every tournament going for the win. So on that level mentally I always feel confident. Q. Ivanovic is looking forward to this match because she feels like her game is rising all the time. Give your assessment. VENUS WILLIAMS: She's definitely a good player, great competitor, and a nice person. It's good to see good things happening for her. Q. She recalled a time I think at a junior tournament where she and a friend wanted to take a picture with you. Do you remember that? VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I wish I did. I wish I could. But there's a lot of people. I don't remember. Q. I think it was Ancic's sister who had requested it. The two of them have this picture with you. VENUS WILLIAMS: Wow. I'm glad I said yes. I can't say yes to everyone. I'm glad she doesn't have a memory of, Oh, that girl was mean. It's nice. Q. Do you remember what you were like at 20? VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, foolish. Didn't understand anything. I think it's the same now. Always learning. So, yeah. Q. If she asked you with that picture in hand now to sign it, what would you say? VENUS WILLIAMS: That's so sweet. That would be so sweet. Q. What would your autograph say on the picture? VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. Something like, Many good times ahead. Something like that. Q. Bartoli was talking about playing Serena, Ivanovic, what it would mean for them to beat you at the US Open. VENUS WILLIAMS: Serena plays Bartoli? Q. Yes. Can you relate to how big of a target you are, how big of a win you are for other players? VENUS WILLIAMS: I think that definitely players, when they come to play against us, I think they know that they obviously have to play very well. And also on our end, we also know we need to play very well because all the players are also very, very good. But I think there's definitely a huge mental preparation going against Serena and I. Q. Stature‑wise, you guys are so far up there for some of the players, to beat Serena or Venus at the US Open on Ashe is a big deal for them. VENUS WILLIAMS: For sure. Yeah, it's a big deal. Q. Do you feel right now it's great these young kids are coming up, Ana is telling us how she admires you, do you want to say, It's not their time, I'm still here? Do you feel that determined right now? VENUS WILLIAMS: When I come to the tournament, I'm coming to win. I'm not necessarily thinking about the next player's chances or if it's their time or not. I am definitely focus inward on what I'm doing. Everyone gets their chance. You work hard, you get what you deserve, if that's a win or a good result. Q. Both of you have tough draws. There is a potential for a semifinal. VENUS WILLIAMS: We're a couple rounds away. I think as long as we keep playing well, stay determined, it can happen. That would be nice for us, for both of us, to get as far as we can, one of us to be in the final. It would be great.

S. WILLIAMS/V.Zvonareva 6/4 7/6 THE MODERATOR: Questions, please. Q. If the plan here after a long layoff after Wimbledon is to use this first week to find your groove, roll into the second week, do you think you're right on schedule? SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm getting better, you know. I just I'm better than I was in my first round, for sure. So that's all that matters. Q. Were you frustrated out there? SERENA WILLIAMS: Not as frustrated as I have been in my other two rounds. Not as much. Q. So you feel like your game's improving? You're happier now than you were a couple weeks ago? SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know if I'm happier. I'm happy I was able to come through. I don't think I played well at But I'm happy I was able to come through. Q. If you're not playing your best right now, you've been through this process before where you had to come back from an injury, so you know what you have to do in the first week? SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, you just got to fight, hope to win. And that's what I did. You know, this girl was a top 10 player before. Wasn't she? I knew it was going to be a tough match, not easy. Q. Just how mad were you? SERENA WILLIAMS: Mad? I mean, I was just I don't know. I was mad at different points and different shots. For the most part I tried to stay I try not to go as crazy as I normally do. Q. During your match today it felt that somewhere in the middle of the second set, Vera was about to do something fantastic and take lead in the game. Did you feel that as well? SERENA WILLIAMS: I felt she definitely picked up the level of her game. I definitely felt like they started playing better and doing different things. Q. What is your opinion about your next opponent, Bartoli? SERENA WILLIAMS:I played her before. I saw her play at Wimbledon. It's going to be a good match. She's doing really well. I'll have to be ready. Q. The umpire at one point told you to put your book away, what was that about? What was the explanation to you? SERENA WILLIAMS: He told me I couldn't use my notes. I was like, well, it's not like I'm Harry Potter, and my dad can magically give me notes to read; it's something that I write myself. Just little things. What if I were to take a paper on the court and write something, what's the difference? So I'm not one for coaching never have been. I just couldn't understand. I've been doing it for years. It's not like something all of a sudden. It's something that I just do. Q. Is this the first time you've been told to put it away? SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, and then he said it was fine. I asked him if that was something they do on the ATP Tour, because I don't play on that tour, nor do I belong over there. He said, yeah. I was like, no one has ever told me. I've been doing this for my first two matches as well. Q. Are you going to find out if it's really a rule or something he just made up? SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I'm over it. I moved on. Q. What do you feel like you need to improve on in the next round? What part of your game right now are you not happy with? SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I have to just make sure I keep moving up, keep moving forward I think is what I need to do most. Q. Did you feel a little bit sluggish today? SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I didn't feel that sluggish. Did I look sluggish? Q. What's the best and the worst part of playing at home? SERENA WILLIAMS: The best part is, there's nothing like playing at home. I can't think of the worst part. There is no worst part. Q. Do you play well in practice? SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't think I've been practicing the greatest, so... Hopefully I'm waiting for it to come together. Q. The book, are these spiritual things you say to yourself or technical things you write down to remind yourself to do? SERENA WILLIAMS: They're more technical. Maybe I'll publish it (smiling). Q. They had it in the British papers, the zoom lens? SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, that wasn't fair. Q. Were you surprised to see that? SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. I was like, "errrr." That's the British way. They're very up close and personal. You got to be ready for that when you go over there. I learned after that. I was like, okay, I'm going to hold it up or put my towel over it. Q. Are you a little down? Are you a little disappointed with your form? SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I was upset after the match. I didn't feel that I played the greatest at all. I actually felt like I didn't play well at all. But that's said and done. I'm moving on. Q. Does it feel somehow different to play Russian players? SERENA WILLIAMS: No, because there's so many of them. You play about six a week. Q. When did you start bringing the notebook with you on the court? SERENA WILLIAMS: The summer of 1973. It was a long time ago. Q. Does Venus also bring a book? SERENA WILLIAMS: No. That's something she's never done. It's something I just I used to take I didn't take a book, I just took like a little paper, just something I wrote something on. I kept losing them, and then I was like, maybe, okay, maybe I'll just keep a book. Q. How many weeks where you able to practice before you got to New York? SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I was training the whole time. Since I left Wimbledon I kept training. I actually was practicing a lot. There were some shots that were limited. Q. Thumb, couldn't come over the backhand? SERENA WILLIAMS: Right. I actually have a great slice. I just don't use it that much. Q. Have you watched much of Venus playing? SERENA WILLIAMS: I was watching her a little bit when I was cooling down upstairs. She's playing really good. She's encouraging me to do better. She's playing unbelievable.

EVA LONGORIA candids L.A. august 27

thanks to Alex

US Open 2R thanks to Alex

Emma Watson filming BBC's 'Ballet Shoes'

V. WILLIAMS/I. Raluca 6-4, 6-2 THE MODERATOR: Questions. Q. Not as much pressure as there may have been on the Venus Williams of six, seven years ago. VENUS WILLIAMS: Do I feel like what? Q. Do you feel there's as much or less pressure than there might have been on you six or seven years ago? You won Wimbledon, which I assume puts a little pressure on you. But then again it's been a few years since people thought you were the dominant player here. VENUS WILLIAMS: I think really the only pressure I react to is the pressure that I put on myself. I think what's important to me is my expectations, which obviously are very high. Q. You went through a rough patch like all athletes do. Is it not as high? VENUS WILLIAMS: What are you saying now? Q. Years ago you were top of the game, No. 1. Went through a bit of a down period. When you went through the down period was it the kind of thing where you said, I'm putting just enough pressure now, or was it, I'm just going to get myself through this; whatever I do I do and then I'll come back again. VENUS WILLIAMS: All my expectations are very high going into every tournament. I'm definitely trying to come out with the win. I want to be the last one standing with a plate over my head. That's my goal every time. Q. Are you happy with the way that you played today? VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, actually. I mean, I think I missed a few shots that were easy, but ultimately, I mean, it's important to get to the next round. I always feel like my game will be there. I'm not stressed out on a few shots. Feel a little wiser, so... It was good today. Q. Do you feel like you're sitting pretty high in terms of your perch right now, how you're going forward in the tournament? VENUS WILLIAMS: It was definitely a wonderful way to start the tournament. It was really exciting, the tribute to Althea. Now I definitely feel like I'm on a roll. I feel like when I need the points I get them. I'm playing very strong. Everything is going well. Q. Aretha said some interesting things about you and Serena. She said it was incredible your dad brought you so far, and she added that it takes men to make champions. Do you have any reflection on those comments? VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I definitely respect her. I definitely couldn't have done it without my dad. I don't know what I'd be doing. They're great parents. I definitely suspect I'd be doing something positive. But if he hadn't started us then we wouldn't be in tennis. So I definitely respect what he did. But a lot of moms out there, like Martina's mom, who has done great things, too. It goes both ways. Q. If you weren't an elite level tennis player right now, what would you imagine you would be doing these days? VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. It would have taken me a while to figure out what I wanted to do. Probably would have ran track, because I ran track when I was younger. But obviously tennis was the place for me. I have to work hard to keep my weight on. I'd be even thinner if I wasn't playing tennis. Probably be modelling somewhere. Maybe those two things. I'd probably be doing something in the arts. I love the arts. Q. When did the track days stop? What was your favorite race? VENUS WILLIAMS: I was like a middle distance runner, like 400/200. That stopped once I moved from California. I was pretty good. Ultimately I would definitely choose tennis over that, yeah. Q. Why? VENUS WILLIAMS: Much more interesting. Q. More lucrative? VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, you said it, but... It's just much more interesting. I can't imagine having to train every day running. At least in my training I get to work on all kinds of different things. Very stimulating. Q. Ever spoken with Jackie Joyner Kersee who has a tennis connection? VENUS WILLIAMS: I got to see her the other night, all the women in the hallway. It met her when I was younger, but I haven't spoken to her since. Q. The US Open is so intense, the travel from the city, so many other things going on to make this a spectacle. With the kind of madhouse that it is, is there anything you do to sort of keep grounded or have a little fun non tennis, whether it's hanging out with your sister, going shopping? VENUS WILLIAMS: Not necessarily. I'm always very happy after a win, but mostly just rest, try to save my energy, try not to get unfocused, try to I guess, really focus on the tennis. So I don't do anything in particular. Q. You're one of the few people that has been able to grow up as a junior player, get into the pro ranks with a sibling. How important has that been in your formation? VENUS WILLIAMS: I think that's the way it's always been. We've always been training together for life. It's normal for me. I wouldn't have it any other way. I couldn't imagine it any other way. For me it's a perfect circumstance. Q. Can you describe how the US Open is different than the other Grand Slams. VENUS WILLIAMS: I think the US Open is really, really intense. That's just the take I get on it. It's just really intense. I feel the intensity I think of just the city, just all the people. The stadium's huge. Just very intense. Q. Are you still in the fashion business? VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, I am. Q. Are you going to take part in the in the Bryant Park festivities? VENUS WILLIAMS: I want to be in the quarterfinals or finals. That's my main goal. I probably won't be at Bryant Park. I'm trying to be here. Q. Do you view the fashion competition as that? I mean, do you feel as if now a lot of the top women are competing to see whose outfits might get the most attention or the most buzz? VENUS WILLIAMS: Personally, as far as the way I look at fashion, just for me, it's just about being me. I guess that's the way it's always been for Serena and I. Things we wear are our personality. As far as the other women, I don't know what their goal is. But I just want to wear something that's me on the court. Q. You must check out what other women and players are wearing, think that's a great idea or... VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, not all designs are successful. Q. Have you ever offered any unsolicited advice on the tour? VENUS WILLIAMS: Serena and I, it was funny, we took manufacturing concepts in school. After that class we had learned all the fashion lingo in that class: silhouettes, acceptable, all the stuff when you're at the fashion show, everybody's talking the lingo. When you get in the class, all of a sudden you're talking the lingo. I mean, I feel like a fool. But, yeah, not everything's acceptable. Q. Coming back to tennis, you're clearly in what everyone's considering the toughest half of the draw. The point has been made several times today, whereas normally in a regular draw you might have had one or two more matches to find your groove before the heavy game had to start. You're only about a match away from when you start hitting phenomenal players to play. How do you feel you'll be going into that?VENUS WILLIAMS: I feel fine. More than anything, what I ask is to be in the draw, because last year I wasn't even in the draw. I had no chance. I was a spectator. So for me it's just important for me to be here. Whoever I play, they're across the net. I'm controlling what's on my side. If I execute, it goes pretty well. It's all about me for me. Q. Normally you play your career and then get into business. The paradigm has totally changed. It's simultaneous. Can you comment on the opportunities out there for elite athletes in business, as well as just the endorsement arena? VENUS WILLIAMS: I think for athletes, elite athletes, lots of athletes, I think it's important to take your opportunities while you're playing. Whatever you envision for your future, go for it now. It doesn't have to be a hundred percent. Obviously the sport will be a hundred percent. But then there's a lot of people who can help you make your other dreams come true. For me, that's what I do. Q. Your father said at age four he had you doing spreadsheets on the computer and learning about financing and loans. VENUS WILLIAMS: I forgot all that. I do not use Excel, but I use PowerPoint. Q. When you first came here, there was no Ashe Stadium. Do you remember when Arthur Ashe Stadium opened? VENUS WILLIAMS: I came here the year the stadium opened, '97. Q. Do you remember your first match here at all? VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I lost the first set. I think I was really nervous. I think I won the next couple sets. I only lost a game. That was just like the beginning of lots of good championship times. Q. Your impression walking into the stadium the first time? VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't remember. I think I was just nervous. It was tough. I was young. Q. You're still young. VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, actually. Q. There was some debate on the TV last night. Maria was winning pretty easily. You won your first round easily. There was a debate about making women's draws smaller. Do you think there's any merit in that? VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, man, what do I think of that? No, I like the draw sizes now. I think it's perfect. I think we have to honor the history of the Grand Slam for the last, however many years. I think it's been 128. I think there's a lot of opportunities for young up-and-coming players. Seems like now we have some Americans up and coming. It's a great opportunity so we got to keep it like that. Q. How do you feel about that in terms of your own skills and what you're trying to do right now? VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm always trying to get to the next level. I always feel like I can be better, and that I am better than the girl I was before. A lot of times for me my performance is never good enough. I always feel like I could have done better. I don't dwell on the past. I definitely feel like my future is the place I want to be, that the future is brighter and better, I can get better. I don't just stay stagnant or live behind. Q. You talked about if you didn't play tennis you might be a model, something else. If you were happy doing what you were doing, could you settle for being average, or do you think a part of you needs to excel or be extraordinary in whatever you choose to do? VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, we were definitely taught in my family, I'm sure lots of people are taught the same thing, is to be extraordinary. For the record, I don't want to model. I don't find it stimulating. I love what I do. But as a young person, it's a good way to start your life, so maybe I would have done that. Q. You can't imagine yourself being average and being okay with that? VENUS WILLIAMS: In my little world, how I see myself, I see myself as special (laughter). At least if I wasn't even doing anything super special, I would feel special. I've always felt really good about me. So that's really what counts. Q. What's the most special part of Venus? VENUS WILLIAMS: I love being me. I just like myself. I love being in my family. I love the way we interact, always have each other. I like the decisions I make. I like my style. I just like who I am. I'm comfortable with that. So whether or not I was working a desk job, I would feel like, you know, I was a special person.

S.Williams/M.E.Camerin 7/5, 6/2 THE MODERATOR: Questions, please. Q. How do you feel you played tonight? SERENA WILLIAMS: I played better than my first round. I'm glad I'm not training too soon. So, yeah. Q. How did you feel physically? SERENA WILLIAMS: Physically I'm fine. I feel like I'm really good. Not tired or anything. I'm really fit. Q. Was there a point that you were a bit uncertain in this match because it was a little close? SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I felt like I had opportunities, and I didn't take them. You know, should have been a different score line. But that was only because I missed the wrong shots at the wrong time. Q. Are there things you're going to do differently preparing to go into the next round? SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, just want to play a little better each round, as each match goes on. Q. How about the support from the New York crowd? SERENA WILLIAMS: It's been great. The support is, you know, amazing. Seems like I always forget how loud they are, how fun the crowd is. It's just a different feeling and I really love it. Q. About the experience playing under the lights in New York City. SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I love playing under the lights. It's great. Sometimes it gets a little confusing with the high lobs, but other than that, it's really good. Q. Earlier today Venus said if things had gone differently, if she could have gone into another sport, she might have gone into track. Is this any other sport that you could have envisioned yourself playing? SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I liked track, but I didn't like the long distance runs. I don't know how dedicated I would have been like training and stuff. I probably would have been a good sprinter. Other than that, no, I think I would have tried to go be an actress or something. Q. Who is faster? SERENA WILLIAMS: Hmm (smiling). I don't know. I'm really fast, especially in a sprint, I'm really, really fast. Q. How far do you think you are away from playing your best tennis? SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I haven't played my best tennis at all in the first two rounds. I'm glad to have gotten through them, but I don't feel like I've been playing great. I don't know how far I am, but I'm better than I was in the first round, and hopefully each round will be a little bit better, a little bit better. Q. What would you like to see, what are the specific things you'd like to see pick up? SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, my return of serve is usually unbelievable. I've been returning a lot. So I'm just waiting on that to come back. I would like to see that go a little better. Just a little bit of everything.

US Open. R1

thanks to Alex

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