US OPEN

September 2, 2025

Leylah Fernandez

Venus Williams

Press Conference

SINIAKOVA-TOWNSEND/Fernandez-Williams

6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Now that your US Open run with Leylah is over, what advice would you share with her moving forward? Leylah, what's the biggest lesson you have learned from partnering with Venus?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I was so inspired by Leylah. She had a great summer, winning D.C., playing incredible here, both in the doubles, lucky for me, and also in the singles. That match she played could have gone any way in the singles. Watching every point, screaming at the TV. It was nuts.

So I really got so much confidence playing with her, having an opportunity to play more matches in the doubles, and it was just an amazing experience to be able to do that.

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: I think for me it's just been an incredible week and a half being here and learning so much from Venus. I was just kind of -- as I said before, I'm just kind of like a sponge, so I'm just kind of sucking everything in and learning and just trying to improve my tennis game.

I think today didn't go our way, but there's definitely a lot of positives for myself going forward, and seeing Venus playing on court for joy just kind of brought me back as to why I started playing tennis. It's probably the most important thing is that I started playing tennis for the love of the game and for bringing joy on court, not only for myself but also for the fans.

Q. Leylah, you probably gained a lot more fans with this outing. People really, really have respect for you, and it was great for you to play with Venus. For Venus, you being back and making such a great showing, have you fallen back in love with either side of the game, whether doubles or singles? What will you focus on going forward?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think I was never out of love with the game, or I don't know. I never had to think about if I loved the game. I was always playing, so it's part of my DNA. But clearly, like, to be out here grinding at this point, there has to be a little love, right (smiling)?

I don't remember the rest of the question, sorry.

Q. Will you focus more on one or the other?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think out there Leylah and I, we kept telling each other to be the best singles player we could be. So our focus will always be singles. I'm not going to suddenly become a doubles player. I never did; I never will. It's the singles for me.

Q. Singles is for you. What do you see now that you've enjoyed everything so much ahead for you?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think after this tournament I can really see where I want to improve, what I can work on. Yeah, I think that it's all great feedback. But also, I had a lot of chances to play a lot of matches here, which is what I would desperately need to get better.

I saw myself improving so much with every match I was playing. In a lot of ways, we just ran out of time. I wish I could have played better today for Leylah. I blame myself for a lot of it. I just wasn't there. I think with a few matches I could have been a stronger partner today.

We played a great team. They have been playing together for years. They've had a lot of success. They just had a little bit more time to pull it all together than we did. We wish them luck.

Q. Venus, a number of players have talked this year about the importance of keeping fashion in tennis. That's something you have done your entire career. This year especially your kits have been featured in "Vogue" and "InStyle." Can you reflect a little bit about what it says about your enduring influence that you are still bringing more eyes to the sport, not only for your terrific playing, but also for your cultural impact?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, for me it's just about what you wear is just a reflection of who you are and being able to express myself on the court. It's a lot of fun when you wear something you feel good in. It's amazing.

It doesn't matter what that is, as long as you feel good in it. So I got to do that. If it was fashionable, thank you for that.

Q. Looking back at this whole time here in New York this year, what would you say was the best part of being here, playing again?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, well, obviously I'm so thankful to the USTA for supporting me and my effort here. It would have not been possible without them and them believing in me to be out here.

I think what I'm proudest of is it's not easy to come off the bench. It really isn't, and I have never had a layoff that long. It brought new challenges that I wasn't ready for, you know, in so many ways.

So I'm very proud that I was just -- I stayed myself. I didn't try to play another game. I didn't try to play it safe. I went for it, and that's who I am. I go for it.

When you go for it, good things happen. Perhaps I didn't get there this time, but I know who I am, and I know that I can work once I have a little chance.

Q. Considering you don't want to take some of those longer flights and stay a little closer to home, what do your plans look like going forward? What's on the docket?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I was so focused on this tournament here. I really felt like we had a chance to really continue to play into the tournament.

So I haven't given that any thought. I do have commitments, you know, places I said I'd be, people expecting me to be there, like, the next few weeks. So I have to go and show up.

But I'm very serious about my commitments. I would never want to cancel now, so I'll try to keep those. If there is opportunity for me to play, then hopefully I can get back somewhere this year. I just don't know. I really don't.

Q. I can remember you years ago talking about watching DVDs of "The Fresh Prince" to sort of break up the monotony between matches here.

VENUS WILLIAMS: DVD? I don't know what he's talking about. He's older than me (laughter).

Q. I'm wondering, A, do you still watch the show? And, B, does it hit different now that Will's played your dad?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, my God, right? We were always on the court practicing. My dad only let us watch educational programs growing up, so never really got to see "The Fresh Prince" until I grew up. It was, like, major for me as a 20-year-old to watch that, but it never gets old.

Will Smith is a legend. The fact that he did such an honor to play my dad, and he took it -- you can't understand how seriously he took it. He really put his whole life into it, and he got rewarded for it too. In turn, we all got rewarded for it. I have so much respect for him.