US OPEN

September 7, 1999

Venus Williams

WTA: Questions for Venus?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Actually, I had one shot that was definitely going out and the wind blew it in. That was a good thing. I think the serve, it was a little bit, because it kind of blows your toss around. But it was okay. Actually, every match I've played, I had to play in the wind except for one. So I was ready for it.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I'm definitely a better player. I've had better results, more tournament wins. A lot of things that happened to me in between. I think that's some of the main difference. And I'm looking forward to trying to do better this year. Last year I was unable to go past the semifinals. But this year, I'm looking forward to doing better.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think I'm serving better than I did last year. I'm moving well. I'm returning well, also. And I think, also, I'm playing the breakpoints a lot better.

VENUS WILLIAMS: There's a lot of great coverage on TV. I can see everything.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, she's really been able to have some easy matches. She's been not giving away too many points. She's really been capitalizing on her opportunities. Not making herself work too hard. That's some of the best tennis you can play.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I think you can get all the pointers you want against me. But unless I give the match to you, a lot of unforced errors, it's going to be tough to win.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I mean Barbara Schett is Austrian. Martina is Czech. I'm sure they're good friends. They hit a lot. Maybe, yeah. (Laughter).

VENUS WILLIAMS: I would definitely -- I wanted to capitalize on the opportunities quick. When I get up 40-Love, just go ahead, take the game, sit down at the changeover and get my break. There's no need to struggle back and forth. In that game, I believe I had about six breakpoints. In the end, it doesn't help, especially for your future matches, if you don't close out on those. I'm looking forward to doing better in my next match.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. I discipline myself by eating a few doughnuts on my next match. I won't be able to run, and I'll know better next time.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm feeling good. It's gone, and I feel great.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I hope not. No, I don't think so.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm not sure if there's an edge. We both go out there knowing we're going to have to play good tennis. We both go out there ready to play. And we both have different games. So there's different things that we capitalize on each other. So... I'm ready to go. I'm sure she's ready to go. Who knows, she's probably on the practice court right now. (Laughter).

VENUS WILLIAMS: The key for me is definitely to abandon all unforced errors. If I can't get rid of those, then that will be working against myself more or less. So, in order not to play her and myself, I will have to stop making errors.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Me.

VENUS WILLIAMS: If I'm playing my best, it's tough, guys. Come on. (Laughing).

VENUS WILLIAMS: I definitely think so. When you go out there and you're playing someone who plays well, either you go to another level or accept a loss. So, I think it's a -- definitely a true statement that when you play someone on a higher level or someone who plays well, it brings out in the best in you. You have to play better. You have to as a competitor.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Even some players who are having a great day can push you on a certain day; they might be a good competitor. We know Martina is a good competitor; doesn't like to lose. So we both are going to go out there and take the W.

VENUS WILLIAMS: How would I characterize it? (Laughing). I don't know. You tell me. I'm just out there trying to win some matches every now and then.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I guess. Whatever you say. Just depends on what the papers write. If they write about Martina and I, there's a rivalry.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No. Just playing. Trying to do well. I've never won here before, so for me, I'm trying to get a title. And for her, I guess trying to get another title. She hasn't won here for a couple of years, since '97, when, unfortunately, I became her victim. (Laughter).

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think right now I'm really just hitting the ball well, as far as I know exactly what it takes for me to get the ball in. If I don't do that, then I know the next one, "Hey, Venus, you have to keep your head up or throw the toss up a little higher." That's mostly what it is, I think.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Sometimes. Sometimes, like in the second serve, I add too much spin and the space goes down and then I mishit it. I have to take some of the spin off.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Sure. I made adjustments, and, yeah.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Stop making unforced errors in the middle of the third set is the main adjustment that I made. Because when you give the match away, it just makes it so easy for your opponent.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't like losing. It bothers me. It bothers me so much that I start working hard, and I don't lose the next time. But this time, I should start working hard before I have to lose.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, she's been on the Tour a long time. Of course, everyone adds things to their game. But I think that sometimes she comes up with some great shots. But as with anyone who's in the top position, you come up with some great shots in different positions. So you just have to be ready for that and move on to the next point.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think that everyone has to capitalize on their abilities, and she probably -- she might be able to, but she probably can't hit the ball as hard as, say, myself or Serena or maybe even Anke. So she has to use the other things, because if she's not smarter, it's most likely she'll get overpowered. So she has to use it.

End of FastScripts….