THE LIPTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 22, 1999

Venus Williams

VERONIQUE MARCHAL: First question for Venus.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I've played her 1996, first round of qualifications at Amelia Island, quite a long time ago. I think we both have come a long way as players, definitely. It's super, because she won her first tournament this year. I didn't know until they announced it. That's great, it happened in her hometown. It happened to me before I won here last year. That's great. She's definitely come a long way from the qualifying to the main round, beat Iva Majoli. It's great.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, not really. It's really great that they're really into it. It's not something that you see at every tennis game where it's so loud that you can feel it. It's kind of good.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I feel okay.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Like with the crowd?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I always feel I can play better. I believe I was playing too far behind the baseline today, not taking advantage of the short balls. That doesn't bring any opportunities.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I've never been where it's that loud.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I was ready to serve. I was ready to play anyway. I had to do something. I suppose it could have. It's great to see the crowd is there and really involved. At least it's better than a crowd that's silent. "What are we doing wrong?"

VENUS WILLIAMS: I couldn't honestly say I played my best tennis.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I've never been the defending champ before until this year, so it's a good thing. At least I know I won last year. I didn't have any losses last year. I aim to do the same thing.

VENUS WILLIAMS: A little better play. I'm a smarter player. I know what to do in situations. I know how to correct my techniques and to do what's right. If things go wrong, I think about what my parents have told me. I try to put that into effect.

VENUS WILLIAMS: It's an advantage for me. I can use my game in any way that I see fit. Of course, I think the power is great, plus I'm a fast player. They have to hit the lines constantly if they want to win the points. I'm going to get there, unless I make a mistake, which is unreasonable to make mistakes. But I do these things. Until I can convince myself to stop, they're going to still keep getting points.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I was ready to serve. Doesn't bother me. I know what to do on the serve, I know how to get it in. I have to be prepared for all situations, no matter what the conditions are.

VENUS WILLIAMS: That's how it turned out this year. I had to go to Oklahoma. Serena wants to go to France. That's how it turned out. I had to take my break last week. If I hadn't taken a break, it would have been my fifth or sixth week in a row. I just don't do that. I do maybe three weeks in a row. It's tough on me. In the past, I have injuries. I have to take care of myself because of my height and my age. I grew so rapidly that I have to be good to myself as far as how many weeks I play, how I do things.

VENUS WILLIAMS: You know it.

VENUS WILLIAMS: You know it. Of course.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I couldn't be there. I was here when she came on court, and I left. I hit with her before the match. I call like a half hour later, I call my dad, "Oh, the match is over." "What are you talking about?" I barely got back to the hotel just down the street. It's over.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Serena has made up her mind to be a better player. She's ready to accept winning. Maybe in the past she wasn't able to, but now she is.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, you have to make up your mind. In the end, it is easy. It can't be that hard, hitting some yellow balls, having fun. Other people have it harder. You get to stay in shape, travel the world. It's not a bad proposition.

VENUS WILLIAMS: At my expense?

VENUS WILLIAMS: When you go into the match, once the other person is on the other side of the court, it's a competition, no matter who it is. After you get off the court, things go back to the way they were. It's just a competition.

VENUS WILLIAMS: You have to ask him.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, you have to ask him.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think she's a nice person. I tried to get her to hold her hands to the crowd, because I guess the Colombians were there and they loved her. She said no. I guess she's a little bit shy.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Maybe so. It's tough playing top players, so.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, you have to expect people to come out and want to win. You can't expect them to give it to you. These days, everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to collect money. Everyone wants to get a better ranking. No, I didn't expect her to come out and just give it to me. Especially, I played her a while ago, you always remember when you lose.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Newsletter, April is issue is due -- what's today?

VENUS WILLIAMS: We haven't even started on it. The worst part is we have to get April and May done before we go overseas. We have to get it done or there just won't be a May issue.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. We don't have to do it so we do it on our own time. I think the last issue was almost three weeks late. It's tough these days.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, when you grow so quickly.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I'm much better now. I'm much better.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes. I will be attending college this fall. I made plans and I've enrolled. That's where I'm going to be.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Fashion design.