STATE FARM EVERT CUP

March 13, 1998

Venus Williams

VERONIQUE MARCHAL: Questions for Venus.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I believe I got a slow start. I was having my problems, making too many errors. I was able to pull through it the best I could in the second.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I remember the last point. I don't remember the point before that one.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, yes. I remember the last one, that's all.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I guess I couldn't get the ball in.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, what else can I say? I made the mistakes. There's nothing much I can do about them now. It's too late. I should have decided not to make them in the tiebreak.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Generally, I don't.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think my game plan was to cut down unforced errors. I was unable to do that in the first set. That's no good. Actually, should have started fast in the beginning, really ready. But I just wasn't able to do that.

VENUS WILLIAMS: The Lipton, next week.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I was having an elbow problem.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think it's tendonitis, no. But I have to get evaluated by the trainers to see exactly what it is. I don't know what it is.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I was able to come through it, but I was definitely having some problems there. I think everyone should be ready to play when they go out to their matches. It's no excuse if you're having an injury.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. Never had this before.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, no. I don't have a good luck charm.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. Sometimes I like to sit in the same area. If that doesn't happen, it doesn't bother me. Sometimes I like to do that. I shouldn't -- I'm not superstitious at all.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Pardon me?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, no.

VENUS WILLIAMS: In the end, I would have played either one of them. I would have played Lindsay tomorrow. I played her last week, two weeks ago. So in the end, you have to play someone.

VENUS WILLIAMS: You should just be ready.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. They're both close. Martina is No. 1. Lindsay is trying to get there. They're both playing very well this year. They both have different games.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes, I still feel that way. Because I think that Serena and I are doing our best to learn what to do during matches, to get better and to get more experience. We're getting there definitely. We still have some ways to go, a little bit. It should be easier for Serena to come through, since I was the first one. She's come through a lot quicker than what I have. Ultimately, Serena and I, I think we have all the skills it will take. I just can't see anyone being better than us in the future. I think a lot of girls will definitely be there. We see all the young girls coming through, doing good. That is going to be motivation for us to really keep ourselves going.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think right now I really have everything down pat. Last year during this time, there were a lot of things I needed to work on, like my movement and my groundstrokes. This year, I think everything is solid. I think right now I need to concentrate on taking it to the next level and seeing do I really want to get to the top, am I really willing to do that work? Am I going to be willing to make the sacrifices, to give it all? I think right now, that's it for me. As Serena, you'll have to ask her.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think so. I think Serena and I, that's our plan. We don't see anyone else -- or we don't want anyone else to try to stop us.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think a lot of the players -- some players in the past, in the Top 10, aren't really working to get to the No. 1 level. They just aren't willing to really go out there and really give it their all, really do what it takes to get to the top. It's not that no one want -- everyone wants to be at the top. But are you willing to go to the next level? I have to ask myself to see if I really want it.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think you have to give up anything.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Are we arguing now?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm saying, the top players, they do more than everyone else. They work a little harder, put in the extra time. That's what the top players do. That's what I've been doing to get to where I am now.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Everything.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I have my notes. I had them the other day. I had them in the first set, but I didn't use them as much today.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think it all depends on how much I play this year, to get the amount of points needed to get to No. 1. But right now I think I should just concentrate on getting better.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I talk to the girls, see the girls all the time. I'm on the Tour. Serena is my sister. I don't think people should expect me to go out and find someone else different.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, she really doesn't have ups and downs. Sometimes you might -- she might get angry at herself and miss a shot. It's not like a lot of other players will do, miss shots for three games. She's really working hard to make sure she maintains her position. She maintained it today against me. I'll look at myself and find out what I'm doing wrong. Obviously, she's very serious, so I have to get more serious in the future, take her example.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I suppose if someone wanted to put it that way. The glass is half full or half empty.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm pretty happy about my accomplishments this year. Every tournament I've got like to the quarters or better. What was I saying? I think today, that I didn't win today, obviously I would have wanted to win. I'm not the happiest that I would be if I had won. But then again, you can't let it get too large to where winning is all that you have because I just have to regroup and say, "Next match, I have to be better. Next match, this is what I'm going to do." This is just the beginning for me, my first years. I'm going to move on, get better, and I'll talk to y'all later.