AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 20, 2005

Venus Williams

THE MODERATOR: First question for Venus.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, you can't expect every match to be perfect. First round for me still was a very good match because I got to hit a lot of balls. With each match I'm playing better, serving better, returning better. My movement's top-notch. Looking forward to playing better with each round, basically.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Still had a few errors. I definitely want to bring those down. But just in general I think my game was very solid. I think when I needed my serve, it was there. When I needed to get to the ball, I was there. When I needed to make my shots so... Basically, just on the up-and-up.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I expected such, yeah. So wasn't like I was going to get an hour match ahead of me. Only when you're not ready and then someone pulls out, then you got to rush, rush, rush, get taped and all this stuff.

VENUS WILLIAMS: It's definitely the right mindset to have, absolutely. No matter what happens, whether you played well, whether you played badly, whether you made good decisions or bad ones, mentally you always have to feel like it's your turn to take to win. I think that's definitely the best mindset.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, she's very good, very talented, very good. She definitely should have a very good future.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm not making any predictions. I want to worry about myself because I've got my own problems so (smiling)...

VENUS WILLIAMS: I can't quite get into it. I'm not allowed to talk about it (laughing).

VENUS WILLIAMS: I've been on ban (laughing). Serena has the same problem, but different, but the same. We're not allowed to talk about it (laughing).

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I've had it many times before. It's not an issue.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Pain.

VENUS WILLIAMS: But I'm fine. It's not hurtin'.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Just my accessories. They're wristbands and I wanted to wear them there, yeah.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I just -- yes, actually (laughing). I was mad because I didn't have any earrings to match. Actually, Serena gave me these, so... They brought me a bit of luck, I think.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Solid. Definitely solid. I would like to have a little more spin. Sometimes I'm a little far from the ball. At my height I need to kind of be in perfect position a lot of the times, so I have to work maybe a bit harder than the shorter player. But also in other ways I have so many advantages. But hitting well.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Under the radar?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I don't watch the TV or read the paper, so I can't even say.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Hmm... Like I said, I don't watch the TV or read the papers. If I do, it's on mute. I hate propaganda and hype, so I've stayed away from it for ages now - except when I'm in here.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I was actually thinking that I need to text her.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I heard, yeah, it's in Delray. I think I had a commitment before, but now I don't. I just found that out this morning. So I'm really excited. I love Zina. She's a great person. I love Billie Jean King, too, though. It's kind of equal how much I love both of them. They're extremely motivating and it's nice also to work with someone a little bit different because I think a lot of time when you work with the same coach, you get a little bit numb, you don't listen as much. When I get to Fed Cup, it's like, "You know, they're saying the same things, I think I need to listen now." So it's nice to work with them, I love them both.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Play better.

VENUS WILLIAMS: You just continue the battle - prepare better, play better, think better, be better. Always better.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I can't be out of the picture (smiling). I can't.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Uhm, I guess he's right. I didn't hear him say it. When did he say that?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I'm late to practice sometimes and then I feel real guilty. So I think he hates when I'm late.

VENUS WILLIAMS: He hates when I'm late. But now that like I'm an adult, I think it's harder for him to say -- you know, there's a fine line between dad and coach. I think sometimes he has to not say as much as maybe he wants to.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, absolutely wonderful player. So graceful, so talented. She absolutely deserves everything that she's got. You can tell she's working hard. If it will be, if we can make it happen, both of us, it will be a great match.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Do I think she's playing well enough? Why would I say that? She's playing very well, but I don't want to concede a win right now to my opponent, doesn't matter if she's Australian or not.