MUBADALA DC OPEN

July 25, 2026

Venus Williams

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Venus, welcome back to D.C. How are you feeling ahead of the tournament start here?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Very excited. This time a year ago I was just coming back from my first match in a couple of years, so it's nice to be back in D.C. It feels very much like home. The crowd here is wild. They're already wild today first day of qualifying. I'm just excited and just tuning up for the tournament.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Just like you said, it was a year ago right here that you came back after being away for a bit. How would you reflect on the year that you've had? What surprised you maybe? What are you excited for going forward from now?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I had a great year. I got married. My husband is here. Serena came back. It's been an amazing year. So I couldn't have asked for more.

I'm just looking forward to more of the same.

Q. Venus, curious what you remember, what you take away from that night you came back in singles and the victory and the ovations you received. Curious how you feel coming into this tournament. It's been a little bit now this spring since you've last had match play.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I feel amazing. It feels like center court is a little bit slower, so my serve might not come in as hard, but I'll have to get over it (laughing). Other than that, everything is exactly the same.

Q. Draw on last year's experience, Venus, that night against Peyton?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I'm going to draw on last year's experience and the other 30 years, too, so (laughing)...

Q. Venus, I'm working on a story about balls they use on tour and some players, especially the men, get very sort of concerned about ball quality changes or changes in balls week to week. I feel like talking to you over the years, you tend to be someone who is not super sensitive or worried about those things. How did you get that mindset? Is that something you've always had to not sweat the details maybe of those sorts of things?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, when you're in Compton, you don't sweat the details, truth be told. You know, the balls are usually not too good. There's a lot of balls that have lost quality. Even I can see that. So there has been a change.

Q. You were saying you're from Compton. You used a lot of used balls growing up, right, or just not "fresh out of the can" balls all the time. That's part of what made you less sensitive?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm just from Compton.

Q. Last summer you sent me and many of us on a wild goose chase trying to ID your outfits at the US Open. Are you planning something similar, and can you tell us anything about what those looks might entail?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, that was so fun, just wearing different designers, established and some that were up-and-coming or just like the new, young, hot ones.

I guess I kind of just keep it whatever comes to me, then I let go and do it. Yeah, we'll see.

Q. Will you be working with your stylist again on different outfits?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think you want me to, so how about yes.

Q. In about a month and a half we're coming up on the 25th anniversary of your second US Open win, and it was a really historic win, as you took the final over your sister, Serena, a very historic final. I know it's been maybe a little bit of time, but can you reflect on that moment? Then, also, second part of the question, would you have ever thought 25 years later that you and Serena would both still be playing?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, never say never, right? I think that that final was a dream come true for us for all the things that we had been preparing for and the things that we dreamed of. So from a personal standpoint for our family, it was all the stars aligning.

From a personal standpoint, I was really happy to have won the match. I think I felt like she was getting so good, it was going to be hard to win those matches and hold her off, and I was right. We saw what happened.

Q. I'm from the Philippines, and the whole country is asking. You had a partner change. Can you tell us what happened as you were practicing yesterday? And also, I think it was kind of announced by the tournament.

VENUS WILLIAMS: We had a great time playing in Bad Homburg, so we were looking forward to playing again. Didn't work out this time. Would love for there to be future times, and we'll see what happens.

Q. We talked about how many years that you've been playing tennis, all of your historical moments. I'm just curious, is there any new mindsets that you have developed or anything new that you have learned about yourself in this part of your career?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, that the only way to go forward is growth. There's always so much to learn, and there's always still much to learn about myself, new hurdles to get over.

Yeah, I think that sport just keeps you honest, keeps you humble, because you just -- every single day is a new battle. I think it keeps you hungry, too, so all of that.

Q. Venus, you had tough luck this summer with your doubles partners, two of them obviously getting hurt at these Grand Slam events. Just wondering what that was like. I'm sure sympathies go to the people who got hurt as well, but what's it like for you, and how are you trying to hope to keep maybe better luck with partners in the future?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, it's those moments of I wonder what would have happened. I wonder if it would have been a good partnership. I wonder how far we could have gone. Those kinds of things there's no answer to, and it's just unlucky. Time and unforeseen circumstance befall us all is really what happened. I would like to hopefully get lucky. How about that?

Q. I assume you and Serena are going to play New York together?

VENUS WILLIAMS: We would love to, so we'll see what happens.

Q. Venus, hoping I can sneak in two here. I just wanted to ask about your relationship with the city. I know it predates this tournament having expanded to a WTA field. Also, on Monday night, if you're not aware, Cora Masters Barry will be honored here with a lifetime achievement award. I know she's had an influence on your life and your career. Wondering if you could speak to that and, again, your time in the city predating the tournament.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I remember when I was at Wimbledon this year, I was just reflecting on all the times we had there, and one of those moments I reflected on, too, was Ms. Barry coming to the tournament. She came many a year and dealing with my mom (laughing), who is a fun lady.

It was just very happy memories. I feel like I was passing by a place that you stayed at. We've done a lot through the years, had a lot of chances to work together.

Some of her legacy in the city is the most important at the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, amongst all the things that she's done for herself, her family, and the community. So I'm happy to have been a part of it. She really deserves this honor and more.

On a personal level, we just had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs. So it's been wonderful to have her in not only my life, but my family's life. Super happy the tournament is recognizing it.

Mark is a top guy, and he's putting on a show here for the fans and for the players. Real role model for the rest of the tournaments. Very happy that she's getting honored.

Q. I know you've been asked a few times before Serena announced her comeback, Have you seen her hit? You always said, no, but if she's going to come back, she's got to put in the work. Now that she's officially come back, have you hit with her, have you seen her practice? If so, what are your thoughts on her game, her level that she's shown?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, she played stellar in that match. I think her level was so extraordinarily high. It was very unlucky. Sometimes you play players who are on fire, and they don't seem to maintain that level afterwards.

But in any case, if she can continue to play, you'll have to ask her what's next, but she looks great.

Q. I wanted to ask, Wimbledon had a rule, maybe they've had a rule before, about not allowing dogs in the club from players this year. I know some tournaments have different rules about that. You've traveled with a dog a lot on tour. Just curious what you think about tournaments being very open or closed to players bringing their dogs around with them?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I haven't given it much thought, but for the most part, you can bring your dog. So there's only one or two you can't. That makes it pretty easy.