WIMBLEDON

June 23, 2003

Venus Williams

MODERATOR: Questions for Venus Williams. Who wants to start?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, it was a really good match out there. I was pretty happy with what was going on. It's always nice to have a good match in the first round.

VENUS WILLIAMS: So far so good. I just have to not get crazy, especially in practice, not to overdo it, which is easy to do.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, in the States just on hard court. It rained so much where I'm living in Florida, the few grass courts that are, are usually drenched. I get over here early on the grass.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think so, no. I don't think I paid so much attention to that. I think I was just paying attention to the ball and how it bounces, but not really to the court. Plus each court is different, the match courts.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Sure, very easy to adjust for me from hard to clay, clay to grass. It's always okay for me.

VENUS WILLIAMS: What is it specifically?

VENUS WILLIAMS: It was an abdominal -- abdominal strain (laughter). Oh, boy, stomach strain, whatever you want to say.

VENUS WILLIAMS: It was a tough time at the French. Those times are over. I'm looking forward to a new tournament. It's quite nice to be here, a lot healthier.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think it affects my serve, no.

VENUS WILLIAMS: For sure it affects your confidence. Definitely confidence comes from practice and knowing that you can do it in practice, that you can work on what you need to work on. That's always tough, to know that you can't get out there and do what you need to do to be prepared to even play.

VENUS WILLIAMS: My dad's always really positive, so he alway says nice things, especially if I'm not playing that well, so that way I can feel good. What do I think? I just have had a lot more time to prepare, always love grass, I'm having fun. But I enjoy playing tennis. I enjoy doing what I do. Each time I like to do better. So if there are times I'm not doing well, of course, I find out a way to do better each time.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know if I'd put it that way.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I just feel I'm playing a little bit better. But this is just one match. The next match I'll have to continue to play even better than today. So I'm not exactly focused on what's happened so far.

VENUS WILLIAMS: It was real nice. They were very nice. I noticed, at least in the first game, they clapped on my nice shots and they clapped on her nice shots. That's always nice. Really classy crowd today.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Definitely one of my favorite Grand Slams because of all the good things that have happened to me here, and because also I love the grass. It's quite a lot of fun for me to play on it. But normally my favorite Grand Slam is the one I'm playing in at that moment.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Hopefully.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I think that was one of the best parts of this tournament, was the tradition, and to be a part of it is always very nice. Hopefully they'll reconsider.

VENUS WILLIAMS: It was just something that was automatic, and that was very nice.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Thank you.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Okay. It all started last year in December and November with Reebok and Diane von Furstenberg. We sat down and had a meeting and then there was a partnership between both of us or all of us. And from there on we started having drawings going back and forth. And finally this corset dress came into being. It was kind of a mixture. What I really wanted was it to be very fashion forward and for it to be just very eye-catching. I think the first designs were really, really nice, but it wasn't -- I was always pushing, pushing, pushing for something more out there. So then once this came to be, it was really nice. It was a process, just like everything else.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. I can't take all the credit, but I'll take half the credit.

VENUS WILLIAMS: It's a pull-on.

VENUS WILLIAMS: It's easy to get into.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I don't buy things that you have to lace up.

VENUS WILLIAMS: She's really nice. She's a classy lady. The thing is I learned about her in fashion history at school. I've worn her dresses before I even met her, so that was quite nice.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Reebok had a new lady in marketing, and she of course brainstormed ideas to get the more creative designs, of course to get Reebok noticed a little bit more than what it already had been with outfits I was wearing.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Who?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I just didn't want to be the person who knew it all. Everywhere I go, of course, I'm new on the scene, and I don't like to tell someone else what to do, especially if they have more experience than me. If I had suggestions, I would gently put them forward. But the best part was I didn't have to wear anything that I wasn't happy with. So ultimately I think a lot of the design was definitely up to me.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, in a way it is kind of a thing that you do know her for because with her dresses, they have so much shape, movement and form. That's kind of the same thing that's happening with this dress, too. It's moving so much. It has really a beautiful shape and it's really very classy. That's really what Diane's all about.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Was I?

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I didn't. I don't know if I'm going -- I might be a little old now. I'm 23, I've got to really focus on things that are really going to enrich my life a little more (laughter).

VENUS WILLIAMS: Is it book number four now?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Did I miss the fourth one? I don't know what's happening.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Right now?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Sounds crazy, but I'm reading a textbook. It's called Apparel Manufacturing. Strange cookie.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I have the Steven King book called the -- the movie that Cathy Bates was in.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Dolores Claiborne. But I haven't read any of it yet. It's by the bedside.

VENUS WILLIAMS: My mom is here, too. I love having my dad with me also. I like having them both. They both have different methods of teaching.

VENUS WILLIAMS: They're both pretty technical.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think, in my opinion, anyone learns more from mistakes and failures, when you fall. But when you're on the high and you're winning all the time, at least for me, a lot of times you don't really notice your mistakes because things are going well.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I would have loved to have had a better year, but it's not so bad. I would have liked to have played more tournaments. That's what I'm going to try doing the second half. I think it helps me be a little more competitive. I had to pull out of a couple because of various reasons, but I'm looking forward to playing a few more tournaments.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I thought you said, "When am I going to get out of it?"

VENUS WILLIAMS: I love working with Billie and Zina. At the last Fed Cup, I think it was - at least for me and maybe the whole team - the most fun yet, Fed Cup. We were at the dinner. Serena had a shoe on, the heel came off. Serena was sliding along. We really just had such a great time at Fed Cup. I mean, of course, being on the court with Billie and Zina is really the best part. The weekend of matches is always good, too. People really enjoy it, every time that I've played at least.

VENUS WILLIAMS: She's just really positive. She just loves tennis, she really does, more than any other person I've met that's a professional person. She really has a passion for it. She really understands the game. She'll say some things that my mom and dad probably have said a hundred times, but she'll say it in a different way, and I might get a few things every now and then. So that's nice.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, she's really willing to share. The best part is you can get as much information and help. Billie is willing to help you 24 hours a day, she's a giving person and she's really honest. You don't get that a lot these days. That's the best part. She'll call and check on you, wish you happy birthday. She just wants to know you're okay. That's the best part. She doesn't have any ulterior motives. She doesn't want anything in return.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. She said I don't have to answer that.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I wish there was a bow and a curtsy. Did you get here late?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I just know that I have to do what it takes to win a Grand Slam, and that isn't always a given. Also I think a lot of times too much emphasis is put on the Grand Slams also. There's a lot of wonderful WTA events that I love playing also. It's definitely where you put your priorities. I'd love to win here.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I think a lot of people would love to be in the position I'm in, to even have a chance to win a Grand Slam. Seeing that I am in that position, I'm not going to get wistful for other things.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I definitely relate to that. I definitely do. He should give me some pointers (laughter). I definitely understand what he means. I mean, at times I have to slow myself down and say, "Venus, every shot doesn't have to be the greatest and the best. Sometimes it's okay to hit a shot that's regular." I always believe that I can do more than what's normal. But I think that's what you have to believe. That's what I was taught to believe.