US OPEN

September 1, 2025

Leylah Fernandez

Venus Williams

Press Conference

FERNANDEZ-WILLIAMS/Alexandrova-Shuai

6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Ladies, congratulations. Moving on. We will go right to the audience for questions. Questions, please.

Q. Leylah, how much are you growing sitting next to someone like Venus in that chair but also playing alongside her on the court?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: Well, I'm growing a lot, actually. I feel like my team members and even my family says, Wow, you are growing just by playing with Venus, learning from her. I mean, you may not say much on the bench, but whatever you say, I'm like kind of a sponge and kind of soaking everything in.

It's a huge opportunity for me to just learn from such a great champion, a legend like you.

Q. Congrats, ladies. Venus, I'm not sure if you answered this, but at the beginning, why did you say yes when Leylah's team or Leylah asked you to play the doubles with her?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, at first I was thinking no. I'm not very good at doubles. I haven't played a lot of tennis in general. I'm, like, Oh, my God, I don't want to get out there and be making mistakes.

But then an hour later, I was, like, I think I want to (smiling).

At first I was just thinking, I don't know if I can actually do it. Then I was thinking, okay, maybe I can. Maybe we have a chance to just get in the draw.

So I'm so grateful for obviously the USTA for -- did we get a wildcard?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: I think so.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I believe it was a wildcard. I never look at the draw, but I just assumed it was obviously a wildcard because I don't really have a ranking. I'm just grateful for the experience. I'm also growing in this time.

It's nice to have the support of Leylah, who's obviously been playing great over the last few years to be able to have a strong partner for the moments when I'm not at my best.

Q. Your outfits, sort of a different process you have been going through with a stylist for these outfits, especially today's one I liked a lot. Curious how it's been just sort of picking these out and if there's been a through line you've been looking for, what you're looking for in putting together these looks in an independent sort of way?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think with each designer, they all have their strong points and signatures. Like today's prints from Pucci is pretty iconic. Then of course the first round, that was so amazing with the Althea-inspired outfit. Each time it's something a little bit different.

Yeah, I've still got a lot more to wear. I'm glad I have another chance to wear at least one more, and I hope we can keep going.

Q. Venus, the people have enjoyed seeing you say, Serena needs to show up. What will it take?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I just got a video of my nieces watching the match and yelling my name. The little one is barely two, not even two yet -- or she is two. She's just yelling, and so I feel like I'm getting quality time with them still, even though I'm not there.

If she came, it would be a dream for both of us and we'd have her on the court coaching. We'd force her to hit, even though she doesn't hit often. It's probably best she doesn't come because we'd probably bully her.

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: Most likely.

Q. It's possible in your next match you'll be playing across from Taylor Townsend. What are your thoughts about that? What would the atmosphere be like, do you think?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: Yeah, I think for me it's going to be a great match. Taylor and Katerina, they've been playing incredible doubles together, incredible years.

I know they are both super-aggressive, and the atmosphere is going to be electric, just like every other day. I feel like we're just going to go out there, enjoy our time, and hopefully play our game.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think it will be so fun. I hadn't thought about it, but Taylor's had a great tournament. Been really fun to watch. I feel like the whole world has been watching her. She played so well. Obviously No. 1 in doubles, too.

Leylah and I will just try to do our thing.

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: Yeah.

Q. Venus, what has doubles meant to you over the years? Specifically, winning so much, playing with your sister, particularly when you played against her so much, being able to share the court on the same side of the net with her?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, doubles was very important to us, and we focused always playing at the majors because we wanted the major titles. We didn't play very often in tour events. We would only play tour events so we could warm up so we'd play well at the majors. And we wanted the Olympic golds, too. So doubles has been a huge part of our career because those were titles that, you know, they have your name by them and that's a wonderful feeling.

Also, to be in the Olympics and play for your country and just to compete at all is amazing. Those were honors for us. We wanted to really show up huge for that. Doubles has been really pivotal.

Now it's an interesting way to start playing doubles again, right? So sometimes it's the place to start and the place to finish, too.

Q. You mentioned also Serena giving you guys advice on what to do on the court. What does that sort of look like now that you're with a different partner?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, she didn't have any advice for you, so I guess you're playing perfect (smiling).

She told me, gave me a pep talk and made sure to call me today. I was, like, You're right. I got it. I got it.

She's definitely coaching from afar. She's so excited. She gets so nervous watching, and she's got the kids watching, they're all at home, just really on our side. We've got, like, I don't know, three coaches now? Serena's on the coaching team?