MUBADALA DC OPEN

July 27, 2026

Diana Shnaider

Venus Williams

Press Conference

SHNAIDER-WILLIAMS/Eikeri-Gleason

6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Venus, Diana, congrats on the win today. Just your thoughts as playing as a pair and your win.

DIANA SHNAIDER: I feel like it was a very, very great match from both teams, very entertaining. A lot of good rallies. So definitely it was a pleasure to share the court and get the win with Venus.

Yeah, super is happy, and it was a lot of fun moments out there.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I'm really grateful to have a great partner. I think our energy matched, and we'd love to just keep going.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Venus, you seemed to have so much joy during that match, and I feel like it's such a great thing and a privilege to watch someone do what think love. How much love of tennis do you have? Can you explain that to people? It just felt so joyful out on court. Then for you, Diana, what is it like playing with Venus at this tournament? You weren't supposed to do it. It's a surprise. What are you taking out of this opportunity?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think I said to Diana in the middle of the match, I was, like, Now we've reached the fun zone, like, we're having fun. I think we got there today where we were having fun with the challenge of the game, because it's most certainly a challenge.

Our opponents played very well. They didn't give it to us. So it was great for us to be able to play together and get to that moment where you can smile and enjoy the points as we played well.

It's not easy to reach that level the first time you play, so it was very good for us.

DIANA SHNAIDER: Yeah, for sure, it was a big surprise for me to play with Venus. I was super excited. Of course, I took this opportunity to share the court with her and then also, you know, to gain some experience from such an amazing player.

Definitely I feel like, again, I had so much fun. I feel like we played so good. I definitely agree with Venus. I feel like our energy matched so well today. So it was definitely a great match from both of us.

Q. Venus, obviously you've had a Hall-of-Fame career. I'm curious, in this sort of stage of it, I saw with this one, it's possible that you could re-enter the doubles top 100, which is pretty good given how few tournaments you've played. I'm curious, does that mean something to you at this stage of your career? You've been No. 1, but still to get a bit of a threshold, what would that mean to you?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Even when I was No. 1, I never watched the rankings, but it's nice. It's nice to get a reward here and there.

I had no idea that that was going to happen, so we'll see what happens. But I don't know, if we keep winning, it could go better. One point at a time.

Q. Talking with Mark Ein before the tournament. Venus, I know you have a relationship with him. What is it about this tournament that stands out and the draw to it?

VENUS WILLIAMS: First, I think the fans. The fans love tennis. They love the players. They support the players, and not every tournament you feel that. You can just feel it from them. They're ride-or-die.

Of course, the tournament treats the players so nice. I feel at home here. There's just no opportunities to play in the States the way it used to be. I think we were spoiled. There were so many tournaments. Being able to play in the States, it's like I put those on my calendar.

Q. Building off that, is there anything that you think, for both of you, you think could be added to this tournament to take it up another notch?

DIANA SHNAIDER: I feel like obviously it's my first time playing here in D.C. Looking forward to play here. I think the city is so nice.

I love playing in U.S. I feel like people, again, love tennis. Everywhere they go I feel support. Definitely it feels nice.

Then the tournament is combined with ATP, which I feel like is super cool for the fans and also for players. Yeah, I'm definitely so far enjoying this tournament, and I hope to go deep in singles and doubles.

Q. For both of you, I'm wondering the timeline here. Venus, you've had some experience the past few tournaments where a partner is unable to play, and you have to withdraw.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah.

Q. When did this partnership come into effect, and was it a relief in a sense that you did get to partner with Diana here?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, actually I think the tournament -- I think Mark Ein ran in and asked you, right?

DIANA SHNAIDER: Yes.

VENUS WILLIAMS: He was, like, the first person. We were like, Yes, that will be a great partner.

I know she's had success on the doubles court. I've seen her play well, so I thought, okay, we could be a really good team. So I'm really happy that she said yes, because it's a long US Open series, and you have to save your energy. Playing two events is not easy. I think it was the right choice, though.

DIANA SHNAIDER: It was definitely the right choice. It was worth it.

Q. Diana, when did you become aware that this was a possibility? What was your reaction when approached with this possibility?

DIANA SHNAIDER: No, I mean, honestly it was super random. I was just having lunch with my team. Then Mark just came. Do you want to play doubles with Venus? We were, like, I feel like maybe you should ask her first, but we would love that. But yeah, maybe ask her first, but yes. It was literally last-minute.

I was super excited about it. Definitely looking forward for it. Yeah, here we are. I feel like it was definitely a great partnership.

Q. Do you have a percentage you're focussed on when you are going for your first serve?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Pretty much 100 (laughing).

DIANA SHNAIDER: We're all perfectionists.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, no tennis player wants to hit a second serve. That's not where the meat and potatoes are.

DIANA SHNAIDER: Yeah, definitely I feel like for me the serve is a big topic in singles and in doubles. Of course, I also try to go for every serve and try to keep my first serve as high as possible, but again, there are days that, unfortunately, you hit many second serves.

So you need to have both. It can work either way. You need to have a solid first serve on tour, and you also need to have a second serve. So we need to adjust.

Q. I have a fashion question for both of you, because Diana I notice you don't wear your bandana when you play doubles. Venus, I know you wear different outfits for doubles and singles during your career most of the time. I'm curious, how do you see the difference between singles fashion and doubles fashion, and how would you describe what a doubles outfit is?

DIANA SHNAIDER: Well, I think for me obviously with my bandana I try to keep it more in singles. I just feel like just because it's, like, my signature look, and I'm alone on the court. I feel like it feels kind of all right to me.

Then doubles, I share court with my partner, and I'm having more fun. I'm more, like, casual when I'm on the court. In singles I wear my bandana, and it's kind of just a different mentality for me, I guess.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I guess you could plan a doubles outfit, but other than that, I have no strategy for the outfit. Save the strategy for the tennis.

Q. Venus, officially 12 months into this comeback now. What's one thing that you've learned about yourself and this journey?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think in tennis you're learning something about yourself every day. It just doesn't end. It's such a beautiful and sometimes painful discovery, and I look forward to every day of it.