WIMBLEDON

June 27, 2005

Venus Williams

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please, for Venus Williams.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Did I?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Uhm, it was nice being out there. I just wanted to play well, just keep my level rising for each round.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I think, you know, it's probably a really big challenge mentally also to play both Serena and I in a row. So, uhm, I guess I had a good position to be second sister (smiling).

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I just made a couple errors at the wrong time. She did hit some good shots. But, of course, my plan was to just break and hold again. And I felt very in control. But she's a very good player. This is a good surface for her. She's a very good retriever. And when she has the opportunity, she definitely tries to take it and move forward. So I knew I would definitely have to play well.

VENUS WILLIAMS: For sure. I felt like, you know, I had the advantage, of course, with experience. Of course, having watched the whole last match, I saw a lot of things. And definitely, like I said earlier, as the tournament progresses, I would love to try to raise my level each time.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, it's hard to say exactly, but (laughter) I definitely would like to, you know, do it a little bit for my sister - but mostly for me.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, when you go out there, you always give Serena the edge against almost anyone she plays. I think, of course, that part was definitely unexpected. But it wasn't under the best circumstances for Serena either. Under the circumstances, I think she did really well.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Come on, it's not fair to ask an American that. It's not fair.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm going to skip that part of the tournament. I think all the fans are very fair here. To be honest, a lot of times I don't really hear it. I'm just so focused on what I'm doing.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't think Serena will be coming back to tennis, but she's with me all the time.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know if I'm allowed to say. Have to clear that with Serena.

VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, usually in press conferences, I just like to talk usually about the match more or less.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, no. I said she's not coming to Wimbledon again this year. I think she's done with the tennis for this year.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes. You guys hear what you want to hear every time.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Serena's a very emotional player, so yeah.

VENUS WILLIAMS: What are you saying?

VENUS WILLIAMS: If I didn't make it as a professional player?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Not at all. I don't think I would be at Wimbledon.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think I'd be running track.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Maybe in a way, probably.

VENUS WILLIAMS: In a way that life is always changing. You just have to adjust with it and challenge yourself to overcome all kinds of things all the time. I'm not really saying on the court, but off the court, too.

VENUS WILLIAMS: The first part is that I haven't combed my hair (laughter). I could quite possibly turn you all to stone right now. Secret weapon in case the forehand or backhand isn't working. I love scarves mostly because I don't like to comb my hair that much. You know, my hair is kind of hard to comb, it's so curly and crazy. Other than that, I'm just a scarf collector. This is my longest one.

VENUS WILLIAMS: It's depending on who is lifting my scarves. I have three other sisters now. I had four scarves lifted that I just bought. So now I have to change the location because, you know, I always have some really nice ones. Serena had one, Lynn had two, and Isha had one, too. They have to kind of get their own.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think she's been playing very well. Should definitely be a good match.

VENUS WILLIAMS: We've played quite a few times. I think I still have the series lead, I think. I don't know if I ever played her on grass, though. I don't think so.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think my game is good. And I feel like that I'm raising to the next level if things get tight in all my matches. I have had some close sets, and I am able to step it up in gear, especially if I get a high percentage of first serves in, too.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I always expect to be better, always. But, uhm, my whole goal is just one round at a time. It's just that simple.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. She's seen so many matches, I think, you know -- I don't think she would -- I wouldn't expect her to come necessarily because it wouldn't necessarily be the first time or the last time. But I'm not even there yet, so.

VENUS WILLIAMS: She'd watch it. It's harder to watch on TV.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes. Even for me, all throughout the Australian Open, I went home, but I was too nervous to watch the TV, so instead I would text someone in the stands to text back the score so I didn't have to watch. It's the weak way out. It's hard.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No, no, it's not, because you're not watching every point. You just get a score and try to accept it, whatever that score may be.

VENUS WILLIAMS: What's the question?

VENUS WILLIAMS: It's all good. I feel like I'm always in a good position.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think that's for you to decide.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I seriously doubt it. The way you guys write, you would think you all have played professional tennis before.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Let's try to move on.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I don't know.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I feel like I've seen a lot and done a lot, so nothing surprises me. Just roll with it.