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U.S. OPEN


August 27, 2018


Venus Williams


New York, NY, USA

V. WILLIAMS/S. Kuznetsova

6-3, 5-7, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Tough in the end. What are you most pleased with?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, obviously winning the match. I think that's what I'm most pleased with. I think I stayed pretty aggressive throughout the match, and that's how I want to play the tournament.

Q. How difficult were the weather conditions out there?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think that the stadium definitely kept a lot of the heat in, but it was also hot outside of the stadium. It was definitely interesting match for the US Open.

Q. Is that a situation where living in Florida helps?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think so. But I also train around 7 a.m. to miss most of the heat. Maybe I should start training at noon (smiling).

Q. Question about the draw. I suppose you know what would happen if you win your next match and your sister wins her two matches. Feeling of playing so early at a major, is that something that is a disappointment when you found out that's a possibility?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, that's the draw. I mean, I've had an interesting draw. Obviously the next match, my opponent is not going to roll over, as well as today. That's really my focus. Hopefully we'll both be there.

Q. Goerges played Serena tough at Wimbledon. Played you tough, as well. How do you prepare for someone that hits that hard?
VENUS WILLIAMS: That's her game style. I definitely have some pace, too. I'm definitely going to go out there with some weapons. I definitely feel like can I hold my own. Just want to continue to play the game I'm playing.

Q. The reaction of the crowd to you now, do you embrace that? That wasn't always there when you played at America's Grand Slam.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, of course it's wonderful when the crowd is behind you. I experienced that much later in my career than I guess is typical. But I guess it's wonderful to have people on your side. You can't go out there -- and you have to do it for yourself as well. If the crowd is with you, it's wonderful to do it for them, too.

Q. At Wimbledon, the top 10 women's seeds went out before the quarterfinals, had never happened before. Here today Simona Halep, the top seed, lost. First time that's happened in the first round at the US Open. What do you make of all these results, what some would label at upsets?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, there are no easy matches. Everyone is playing well. The higher you're ranked, the more that people come for you. It's just a chance for them to just hit out. They always play well against you, all the top players. I don't know that they maintain that level, otherwise you probably would see them more often. But when you get out there, they come for you.

There are no easy matches.

Q. What do you think about having the 25-second clock displayed prominently on the court?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I've been playing with it all summer. I think most players pretty much play within it. Obviously there's a few times it gets close, and the crowd gets loud, your opponent might be at the towel. I think most people make the clock. If sometimes you get to zero, there's usually a reason for it, there's a delay for whatever reason.

Q. What are your thoughts about the French Tennis Federation's comments about Serena's outfit?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know what his comments were, but the outfit was absolutely fabulous.

Q. He had a comment about having respect for the game.
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, Serena has done so much for tennis, so much for tennis, so much for people in the world. I think that's the only focus that we can focus on.

Q. Is there anything you like to do when you're in New York that maybe you don't get a chance to do in other cities?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't do enough here. I really don't.

Q. Anything you're looking to doing this time around?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Winning matches. That's all that matters.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

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