MUBADALA CITI DC OPEN

July 24, 2025

Venus Williams

Press Conference

M. FRECH/V. Williams

6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Venus, your thoughts on the match today? And also on your time here in D.C.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, I had so much fun. Definitely not the result I wanted, but still a learning experience. The part about sport in life is that you never stop learning.

I got to play a lot of matches here and definitely was a plus. The fans in D.C. are just epic. I couldn't have been happier with my first week back.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. In the hypothetical Venus Williams Trophy of wonderful moments on tour, where do you feel like this time in D.C. kind of ranks for you? After time off the tour due to injury and other things, where does this rank for you having felt so much love hopefully from the crowd?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think this moment for me was so much anticipation. It's kind of hard to describe, because where I came from to be here is somewhere where I never thought I'd see myself in life. So then just to be here at all is really a blessing, and then to play well is just another blessing (smiling).

So this is a moment that's really hard to describe and categorize. I feel like I'm still reflecting on it.

Q. You're obviously feeling pretty good about it overall. I saw you go out and do your twirl wave, even after not winning, which just shows your emotions in the moment. On your comments after your first singles win about the healthcare stuff generated a bunch of coverage of that and people talking about that. Could you clarify how serious or tongue-in-cheek that was about that being a main motivating factor for you? Some people took it literally. And I wonder if you appreciate from this new experience like the importance of healthcare in people's lives. A lot of people really do have to rely on work and stuff like that to get the healthcare they need.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. I mean, nobody wants to be on COBRA, right? That remains an issue in my life.

But obviously healthcare is so important and access to healthcare and being able to see the right and the best doctors for whatever you're going through. I have had that opportunity. I had that opportunity last year to see, in my opinion, the best doctor ever. That was all possible because, you know, I had insurance. Without that, the bills are quite hefty.

So it is a serious issue. Obviously it's a fun and funny moment, but it's an issue that people are dealing with, so it is serious.

Q. You talked after your first singles match how the headline for you would just be good health and the ability to be back on the court. Playing four matches in four days in these hot and humid conditions, how grateful are you to be able to do that?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm so grateful. I feel like I ran out of gas today, unfortunately. I tried to find the energy, and I didn't find it.

But, you know, four matches in the first week is a lot. You know, I love playing doubles. One of the reasons you don't play is usually you're just trying to save your energy, and plus it's hot. When you're doing the training and the warmup, you're spending an extra hour sweating it out.

I'm really grateful. I think without that doubles match, I don't know if I could have played as well in the singles. So I think everything served its purpose this week.

I'm sorry to have fell short, but I know I can play better and I know I will play better. Congratulations to Magda today. I hope we get another chance to play this summer so I can play a little better next time.

Q. One of your great legacies in this sport and all sports is equal pay. They're going to be equalizing the pay between men and women in this tournament in 2027. There was also just a huge amount of publicity around the WNBA stars advocating for themselves. Where do you think we are in equal pay right now?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I did not know that about the tournament. One of the things about not being on tour is you miss some of the news or let's say all of it. That's great news.

Of course there are so many exciting things going on in women's sports, and it's literally just the beginning. Of course there is room to grow. And of course we'll get there. These ladies are tenacious, talented, and they're exciting. People are watching. With all of that, it's just the perfect storm for growth and for equity.

Q. It's been announced that you're going to be playing Cincinnati. So you're pretty much back on tour, back in the sort of race and traveling, traveling circus, let's call it a little bit. What is that experience like? You have that experience, going from tournament to tournament, seeing other players, going to the exercise room, all those things. What is that process like for you? Are you enjoying it? Are you kind of remembering what it's like to be back on tour?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. Of course it falls right into place. I have done this before. I know what I'm doing. Things change. Locker rooms moves. I don't know where I am on a particular site.

But at the end of the day, driving a car is all the same. Different car but same, you know, maneuvers. But it does take a lot of energy. There is a ton of stress mentally, physically, emotionally at tournaments. I know how to deal with those things. But there is a lot less of that kind of stress off the tour (smiling). I think it does take a little bit of time to get used to that again.

Q. On Cincinnati specifically, you had a very good win the last time you were there. Just your excitement about going back to that tournament and the memories you have there?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, the fans there are epic too. I don't know if anything will get to this level of D.C. I wish I could have won for the fans today. That would have been nice.

I don't know what match I would have played tomorrow. Hopefully I would have had enough time to recover and do it again. We'll never know. In some alternate universe, I won this match (smiling).

It's going to be amazing. There's so many learnings from here. I know exactly what I need to work on, where I can improve. The good news is I'm always in control of the point. The important part is to put the ball in.

So this is one thing I didn't do today. Was I in control? Absolutely. Will I be in control of most of my matches? Most likely, yes. That's the place I want to be, so I'm putting myself in that position. That's what counts.

Q. Can you tell us what it takes at the age of 45 to get your body and your mind ready to do this? Have you talked to Tom Brady or others in their mid-40s, any advice from others about doing this?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I never got out of shape, so you'd have to talk to someone who let themself go. (Laughter.)

That's not my thing. I stayed in shape. Even if I wasn't playing tennis, I was always in the gym. So I think the only difference now is I think I'm just tighter, but I have always been a very tight individual anyway, so my muscles are even tighter, which maybe is good or maybe is bad.

But physically, I feel pretty much the same, like I don't have major injuries that are like killing me or anything like that. When you play on tour, something comes up, trust me. You have no idea what goes on for players to get out on the court. Something happens. You're trying to fix things.

That part is normal, but I don't have, like, chronic this or chronic that or this is a disaster, I'm holding it together with staples and paper clips. I don't have any of that with my body. It's a blessing, knock on wood.

Q. You mentioned a little earlier about being out of the loop not being on tour. During that time, I have noticed an uptick on your presence on YouTube. What do you think the benefits have been letting your fans in, reliving your great moments from past times? What's been the benefits of that and connecting with your fans?

VENUS WILLIAMS: It's a lot of fun, because you get to say exactly what you want to say. You guys will write what you want to write. I may not agree with it. Shame.

But on YouTube or on social platforms is your opportunity. I have a great guy that I work with. He's right back there, Lucas. We have had a fun time, a fun adventure in this last year doing this. So there will be more.

Q. I wonder if you have learned anything about yourself just through this whole process? Not even necessarily just this week but what it took to get back on tour? Like you said, you would train, take some time off, and then you did it.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Have I learned anything about myself? Maybe not yet. Maybe you're right. I should learn something. But I know there is always a lesson to learn.

I'll reflect on this match and the things I could have done better. I'll reflect on my preparation going into the matches to make sure I'm prime and ready. Those are the kind of things. But more than anything, I take a lot of information from this tournament. So much data.

Like I can't wait to get on the practice court. My coach and I were already talking about what we're going to work on and also how much better I got so quickly in these last few weeks too was kind of like straight up a mountain.

So we have made so much progress, and I expect that there will be more.