coluchka

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

Britney Spears tries to shop in Beverly Hills (28.08.2007)

USO 2007 S. WILLIAMS/A. Kerber 6-3, 7-5 THE MODERATOR: Questions. Q. Each year at the US Open you have an outfit that matches your mood. What does your outfit say about your mood, how you feel about your tennis right now? SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, my outfit was dark, and I definitely played a dark match today. My outfit was dark, but I thought it was kind of young, hip and fun. I felt definitely very young, hip and fun. Q. What does it say about where you're at in your tennis game? SERENA WILLIAMS: I think the outfit is more stylish, like more it mod, which is kind of like '50s and '60s. I think '60s is more mod than anything. But I think that style is something that's iconic and, like, it never it's always in style. Q. First match since Wimbledon. Decent period for you. What did you think? SERENA WILLIAMS: I didn't play well at all, at all, yeah. It was a crazy match out there. Q. But even for you, eight time Grand Slam champion, you have that much time off, you have to work out the kinks, don't you think? SERENA WILLIAMS: I guess. I don't know. If I'd have done the things that I did in practice, it would have been a better match. I just think I was too uptight about keeping my record for first rounds (laughter). Q. Did you think about playing a tournament before this one? SERENA WILLIAMS: I did. I was gonna play in New Haven. I wanted to play so bad, but I just couldn't. I didn't think it was the right time, so I just had to go with this one. Q. How long have you been hitting two handed backhands now? SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, a week, two weeks. Q. Did it come back quickly? SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. It's my best shot. It came back. I have a great slice now. I have a great forehand. You couldn't tell tonight, but... Q. What did she do that gave you so many problems on the court? SERENA WILLIAMS: No, it was me. I think she definitely played a tough game, but I just think I made a lot of errors. I didn't feel I moved my feet well. I felt like I was just flat footed. I felt like I was just heavy. I just didn't I don't know. Q. Were you feeling the pressure of you having to win on this night after Venus had won? SERENA WILLIAMS: I just felt like I don't know. I didn't feel pressure to win. I just don't want to lose in the first round. I'll be better the next match. Q. When did you realize the thumb was as bad as it got? SERENA WILLIAMS: I think about two weeks after Wimbledon 'cause I just thought it would get better within a week. I thought, okay, it will be better next week. Two weeks later, I was like, okay, maybe I should go on vacation. So, yeah, I really thought I was going to play Fed Cup. I was so amped. I was so ready to play the summer. It just didn't happen. Q. Was it a little bit scary when it wasn't getting better week after week? SERENA WILLIAMS: It was a little bit frustrating because I felt like I was playing well and I felt like I didn't deserve it. You know, I was very frustrated actually. I just had to stay fit. That's the only thing I could do. Q. It was a special night with the tribute to Althea Gibson. What do you think yourself and Venus' contributions have been for African Americans and for the game of tennis? SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, I never think about it. I know every time I step out on the court I play for me and I play for all the other little African American kids out there who have a dream and who might not have the means, like myself and my sisters didn't growing up. I feel like I play for them, too, and let them know if they fight hard and if they work hard, more than anything, your dreams can come true, whether you want to be a tennis player or a singer. You just have to work hard at it. I believe if they have a positive role model, they can do it. Q. If you look at the pro ranks, there doesn't seem to be that many African American players coming up behind you just yet. The same can be said for the PGA TOUR with Tiger Woods' impact. Why do you think that is? SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I can't answer that. I really can't answer that. Q. Do you feel a little bit like you've come into this Slam maybe not as prepared as you want to be, but you've progressed well and won? SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I played like that in Australia. I have that on my back. I'll be fine. If I do what I do in practice I'll be fine. If I play like I did today, I'm going to be in trouble (laughter). Q. Roger Federer said earlier tonight when someone asked him about Althea Gibson, he said it was before his time, he didn't know who we were talking about. Does that make tonight more important to educate some more of the players on tour as to just who she was? SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think so. I can't imagine he didn't know who Althea Gibson was. Q. That's what he said. SERENA WILLIAMS: Which I think is the point. I think a lot of people don't know who she is, and they always say Arthur Ashe, Arthur Ashe. People forget that Althea Gibson was actually years, decades before Arthur Ashe. I think it's important to have nights like this so you can teach young people that don't know who they are. Q. How did you feel conditioning wise? SERENA WILLIAMS: Fine, yeah. Q. How does your faith come into the equation? Many people believe you rely on more than talent. SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, yeah, I definitely rely on talent. But I think I pray, but I don't expect God to give me the Holy Spirit and let me win the match. I also believe that you have to work hard. He doesn't help anyone that's just sitting down. I always just pray for strength if I'm facing, you know, some obstacles. Other than that, yeah, that's it. I hope that He can help me through that. Q. What do you think about Venus hitting 129 tonight? SERENA WILLIAMS: I hit 126 (smiling). Q. You were talking earlier about role models. When you were a kid growing up thinking about tennis, was Zina a role model, or was it like she was a role model but you were looking at all the players? SERENA WILLIAMS: Absolutely. I remember when I first met Zina, I was so excited. I got to hit with her. Honestly, it made my day. I remember when she was in the finals at Wimbledon, we were practicing. This guy came screaming on the court, Zina's in the finals. She beat her. She beat her. We were so happy. It was a dream come true for us. It was the most amazing moment when I first met her. I thought I could beat her. She hit so hard. I was so young and weak, I could barely get the ball back. I'll never forget how she hit with me and Venus. It was a great experience. She was really her and Lori McNeil, I really looked up to them. Q. When she got to that Wimbledon final, did it change what you thought you could do? SERENA WILLIAMS: Absolutely did. I felt like if she could do it, then I wanted to be there one day. My dream was always winning the US Open. I felt like I wanted to do the same thing at the Open. It was unbelievable for her to get there. Everyone was so happy. I wanted to stop practicing to celebrate, but we kept hitting. Q. Venus couldn't quite remember, sometimes your memory is better, but do you remember the first time you talked to Althea? Did she give you any special words? SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I remember I talked to her after I won here in '99. I just remember her saying something to the gist of like she finally was able to see a black person win a Grand Slam. I remember her saying that. She didn't say that verbatim, but that was basically what she said. I was so happy at the time. I was so excited to talk to her. Yeah, it was a great moment. Q. You mentioned your natural ability. I remember watching you in Compton working, working and working, do you think you've become a natural or was it just hard work? SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I was terrible. I couldn't hit hard. I hit lobs and slice. I'm amazed that I've come this far. I was terrible. Only thing I could do was run fast. I had like a terrible serve. Oh, my God. I had the worst forehand. When I look back at old films my dad had, I'm like, I would have quit on her. It pays not to give up because somewhere along the line I changed. I was not the "it" girl at the time. Q. It didn't come naturally? SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I don't think so. Everything takes hard work. Q. How did you feel about the crowd tonight? SERENA WILLIAMS: I felt excited. I thought they were really having fun. I thought it was a lot of people out there. I thought I don't know. I thought they wanted to see a longer match when I got down or when the girl got even. FastScripts by ASAP Sports

USO 2007 V. WILLIAMS/K. Nagy 6-2, 6-1 THE MODERATOR: Questions. Q. Big night obviously. Good way to start. All those figures out there on the court, winning on a night like this, what did it mean for you? VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, it was definitely a tough act to follow in a way. Just watching the whole hour of entertainment, the whole story, I got to be part of the story, too, it was really moving. It's like, okay, Williams can't lose tonight. That's not part of the plan. It's supposed to be an all American win tonight. You know, I was definitely thinking that. But it was amazing. It was awesome to see all the women. When I came out of the locker room they were all lined up. When you walk out of the locker room, you're walking, you're concentrated, then there are all the women this. It was just exciting because for that second I was just enjoying the moment. Q. How many of them had you met before? VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I know Traci Green. Obviously I know Zina. I've met Jackie Joyner Kersee when I was 13. Yolanda Adams, I love her. Other than that, Phylicia Rashad, yes, I know her. Aretha, I've met her. I did know a few. Q. What did it feel like to be around that kind of power? VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, it was amazing, just the energy of all the smiles, the well wishes. They all were wishing me so well. Just good things. Just the power of the spirit in Althea, the things she went through, and knowing it's people like her that gave us an opportunity to be here today. That all these women lined up here are because of women like Althea, and we all really are living up to that, it's amazing. Q. Since you and your sister have come on the scene, what do you think your impact has been in tennis, the African American community in particular? VENUS WILLIAMS: I definitely think there's a lot more African Americans coming to tennis. I always see a lot of people coming, a lot more African Americans watch tennis. So I definitely have seen a lot more faces in terms of that. But, I mean, I'm not out there every day in the community, so I can't see on a grassroots level exactly what's happening. Q. There aren't that many on the tour. The same correlation goes with the PGA TOUR. Tiger Woods has been around about the same amount of time a you. There aren't any other African American players on the PGA TOUR. Why do you think that is? VENUS WILLIAMS: I just think it's a tough, tough game to get into. Probably in the community there aren't as many people to play against. There aren't older people who teach as much. I'm not exactly sure, but I definitely think I definitely probably should be more hands on with trying to do more. But a lot of times it's tough just to be in the tournament, fulfill my commitments to the WTA and to the fans. I've definitely been thinking about that this year, how I can get more involved. I think I definitely will. Q. You didn't seem to take very long to get into the match. VENUS WILLIAMS: I felt good. When I was playing in San Diego I was really, really tired, but I was playing well. I wanted to pick up from where I left off there. I think she played well. Definitely her ball was a little bit different. It did give me some challenges. I felt like I was so close to the ball. Maybe I was just running fast hopefully. But it was very exciting to obviously start with two service return winners. Q. Besides the fact it's the first round of a Slam, does an occasion like this provide extra nerves? VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm definitely not necessarily more nervous. I always think my game through. But I feel pretty confident. Q. And the wrist, the knee? Update on all those? VENUS WILLIAMS: The knee is fine. I took some time off. I just couldn't get it to calm down. I needed to actually take prescription strength antiinflammatories to calm it down in San Diego after my first round. I didn't really want to, but I had to to stay in the tournament. I just realized that I didn't want to go into the Open like that. Took about 10 days off, then started playing again like after Toronto probably the middle of Toronto started getting back on the court. It was good. I still had so much to do, but that's life. That's life when you win. Q. Did you know when you hit the serve, how fast that was? VENUS WILLIAMS: I didn't realize it. I was so excited because I wasn't even trying. It just comes. Even when I'm trying just to say, Okay, I'm going to hit a half pace with placement, it comes 120. That's just how it comes. I'm not really trying. It's so exciting. I was very excited. I wasn't expecting to do that at all. I guess I got to try for one more, 130. Q. Did you see the number immediately? VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I didn't. I think it was after the point. I was like, Ahh. I was so excited. Q. The clothes, is this part of the new design? VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, it's all part of EleVen. Q. Shoes included? VENUS WILLIAMS: Shoes included. Q. How did they do on the court? VENUS WILLIAMS: They did very well. They led me to a win quickly. That's what they're supposed to do. They're designed to do that. If I don't win, it's my fault, not the shoe's. I'm wearing everything EleVen now. Q. Golovin has been beaten by Ahsha. VENUS WILLIAMS: I've never really seen her play before, Ahsha that. Obviously it's a wonderful win for her, obviously a great night to do it with Althea Gibson tribute. It's good for American tennis. But I don't know her game very well. Q. I spoke with Mr. Richard Williams outside regarding the significance of Althea Gibson's accomplishments. How did that influence your attitude, perhaps your performance tonight? VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, like I said, I was really motivated because this was a night that the Williamses need to win. What's the score for Serena? 3 All. I guess the girl is playing well. Serena has a never say die spirit. I felt really motivated to definitely bring in the win because of the whole night.