MUBADALA DC OPEN

July 29, 2026

Diana Shnaider

Venus Williams

Quick Quotes

QIANHUI-YIFAN/Shnaider-Williams

6-4, 6-2

DIANA SHNAIDER: I mean, it was great. The opportunity for sure I never thought that I would have. So definitely when they asked me, I was, like, Yeah, I'm in.

So definitely, you know, this was a great match, great two matches. It doesn't matter really, like, the way how we played. No matter the outcome, it just matters that you're playing with a legend like Venus.

It's already, like, such an important, like, you know, experience and memory. So it was definitely worth it, you know, playing and just trying to see, like, the mindset from such an amazing player.

Q. Did anything surprise you about her?

DIANA SHNAIDER: I feel like just overall her personality. We giggled a lot in the matches and were making a lot of jokes. I feel like sometimes (indiscernible) with players like Venus and Serena that they are, like, super serious (indiscernible), but it's actually they're, like, very funny in a different way. So it definitely was, like, surprising for me.

Q. I know your time in Washington isn't over. You're probably really excited about singles and having the bye. Can you share your insight about the match tomorrow and just how your preparation for singles went?

DIANA SHNAIDER: Yeah, definitely exciting. I spent a couple of days here practicing, getting ready. For sure expecting a tough match. Definitely it's going to be.

I mean, Potapova is a grinder, and I know she's going to fight until the last point, so looking forward on that. It's going to be a great fight, and I will just try my best tomorrow.

Q. Venus, your time in Washington is over, but I'm sure you have to be excited about going to Toronto. Can you share how excited you are to go to Canada?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, I'm excited. I did a lot of great things here this week, so looking forward to playing more matches and just honing everything.

Q. You have had a lot of good results in doubles the last 12 months. It seems like doubles is getting more specialized; the team you play is a full-time doubles team. Have you ever thought about focusing more solely on doubles?

VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't really have a doubles partner. So I think in order to do that, I would need a partner, so we'll see what happens.