PILOT PEN TENNIS

August 25, 2000

Venus Williams

Q. Is it fair to say that was the best you played this week?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I would say it was the most controlled I've played this week as far as just controlling it, keeping it in, getting -- I was trying to get a lot more first serves in with a little more placement, less double faults.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, because I didn't have time to struggle today, seeing I'm playing a night match and I have to play tomorrow also, assume that I win, I would have to play tomorrow, and I didn't want to extend myself further than what was necessary. So I felt that I should play a little consistency, consistently and when I had the opportunity to go for it.

VENUS WILLIAMS: It will be a good experience, good thing. I have a possible semi-final matchup with her. If all things go well, she keeps winning, possibility I'll play again at the Open. We both get through.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think I did okay, I was under control, I was trying.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think it was an eyelash, I couldn't really get it out, so I just had to tough it out.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm going to try to keep it on my side. I have a few more tournaments this year. It would be nice to go without another loss. I had three losses this year. I think maybe only one player in the top ten and two other -- I don't know, but I had a couple of losses this year and, fortunately enough, I played well in my larger matches against like Serena and Lindsay or Hingis, so that's been nice.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I prefer not to say.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I prefer not to say.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I think I went for a serve more unexpected, which is a tougher serve, for a righthander like myself that's not really the expected serve. I hit that one well at times. So I guess I went for it and everything went right.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I think that I've been winning, but as far as playing better, I'm not sure. I think in my other tournament I was a little more aggressive. This week I feel my balls are playing out. I feel like I have to kind of play within myself. So tomorrow I'm definitely going to try the add more spin and keep it in, stay with the power.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think I was serving very big today. I thought I was serving pretty reserved. I think also she took the level of her serve down. I played her about two weeks ago in San Diego, she was actually hitting some nice serves. I was attacking her first serve, second serve. I think today her plan was to get the first serve in so she could not have to scramble as much, but you have to go for it, especially to beat someone like me.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I just think that, again, a player like her, you have to do your best to come in a little more, take some balls out of the air, hit some volleys, because she anticipates well, and she runs very well. And you just have to be consistent and expect her to get some balls back. That's not a problem, because she's a good player.

VENUS WILLIAMS: That's a rumor. Where did you hear it from?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, yeah, she came actually in San Diego, and I wasn't playing too well in the final, she said, it's okay, Venus, it's okay. You have to want it more. She was pumping me up the whole time. I was disappointed I got down to 5-2 in the second set. I managed to get 7-6, I played in the tie break. She said, it's okay, it's okay. That was nice.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I don't know if she'll be here.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Pretty good, apparently. Everytime I call, she says, "Hold on, I'm on the other line." Today she said, "I'm actually in a business call," and she never called me back. So I don't know what she's doing. She's a top executive now.

VENUS WILLIAMS: In general I like to play the higher ranked players, a better opportunity for me to move forward in my life. It's nice, I have the opportunity to play her. I guess, too, Tauziat would have been nice too, she plays quit well. But, yes I'm happy to be playing in the final.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I think all preparation comes before you step on the matchcourt, comes in your mind, but sure, it's a nice match to play.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Because I don't want to be a coach, I don't want to be a commentator, I don't want to write for tennis, I would like to move on with my life.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know, maybe I'll just sit around. But I will have a degree, so I have the choice.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I don't think it's a good world for me. I think I'm better off on the sidelines.

VENUS WILLIAMS: You see, I'm not used to that, really. These days I kind of get ahead, and I'm not used to playing from behind, especially far behind. When I first got on the tour, I was always gutting it out and fighting to the end. I was always getting behind and finding a way to win the match. Now I'm not used to this anymore. When I get behind, it's a very strange feeling. Fortunately enough, it's only one or two games these days.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I expect her to definitely raise the level of the game, because she's playing a top player. And she's actually serving a lot better, that's a plus. She's using her lefthanded serve very well, and she's trying to put something behind her return serve and her groundstroke, and she's moving a lot better. So she definitely added a of lot pluses to her game. These days you have to if you want to keep competing. Everyone is getting better every day. So I expect her to play well. If she's going to go for the title with the U.S. Open, no one wants to enter the Open with a loss. I'm going to go for it. She will too.