Interview with Venus Williams after her win
over Vera dushevina at the 2009
US Open
Q. How did you pull that out?
VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, she was playing very well.
She put everything in the court, tried to move the ball
around, you know, she was serving well.
So, you know, I had a challenge on my hands today. But I
wanted to win. And, uhm, each good shot and each not so
good shot I put behind me and looked forward to the next
one. Most of all, I just enjoyed the moment.
Q. How do you explain all those
foot faults?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I didn't even know which
foot it was at the beginning. I think it threw me off in
the tiebreak because, you know, I had 6 3. After that, I
just got a little tentative.
Yeah, so, you know, the tiebreak was definitely in my
hands. I could have had the opportunity to close it out
in two sets. You know, pretty confident that I could
have. But I'm glad I closed it out in three.
Q. Is your knee issue just
tendinitis, or are you going to have any further tests?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I never said what it was (smiling). I
never get into details about any injuries I'm going
through. You could see I had some issues. I'm just going
to do my best to get as close to a hundred percent as I
can for my next match.
Q. How much do you think these
issues are going to affect you as you continue on, and
how concerned are you?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Oh, I won't be complaining. I'm going
to go out there with my racquet, just like everyone else,
and try to bring my best tennis. That's the best I can
do.
Q. Is this the same problem you
had in Wimbledon?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, where I needed the support
(smiling)? I guess I still did need some support.
Yeah, like I said, I don't really talk about my injuries
historically, and I'm not going to start now. But I'm
just going to do my best to be as close to a hundred
percent for my next match.
Q. Final set, you're cruising
along. What happened?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, you know, I almost had 5 Love.
She did start playing well. Started using my power to
bring the ball right back. I just started to rush a
little bit just too much. So obviously right there I felt
like, and then lose serve once and it's almost even.
But obviously it's great to have two breaks, and I think
some good serving helps me to get to 5 3. I just kind of
started rushing a little bit, 'cause against a player
like her, you'll quite possibly play a few more balls.
Yeah, I wanted it too quickly for a few games there.
Q. You were having some problems
with your serve. Commentators started talking about
serving in women's tennis. One of them said the person
who serves best will win the tournament. Do you agree
with that?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I don't care what
commentators say. So it's just all, you know, like they
aren't on the court winning championships. I don't
really... Yeah.
Q. At what point in the match
did you feel like you dug deep and really started to put
your game on?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think, you know, once I was down 1 3 in
the second, I really just tried to stay focused and not
to, you know, unravel and start to go for bigger and
better shots, which wasn't the answer.
I really don't remember quite what happened at the
moment, but it really worked out. The crowd was really
great at 4 5. It was just one of those great New York
moments.
Q. Traditionally the night
sessions, they've always had the women's match first.
Roddick went on past 11:00. I'm wondering if you think or
have any sympathy for him? When they do a ceremony on
court, do you think they should do one match instead of
two?
VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I wasn't very patriotic today.
Close to a three hour match. Didn't help him out at all.
Looks like he's doing okay. I think the people still want
to see tennis, even though there's a ceremony. People buy
tickets for the first night. It's really exciting, and
they want to see two matches.
Q. Right before your match, did
you get a chance to see any of the ceremony, say hello to
Andre Agassi?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I didn't. I didn't, so... I
didn't.
Q. Did it cross your mind in the
second set, I've never lost in the first round of the US
Open before?
VENUS WILLIAMS: No. No. I mean, in the second set you're
just focusing on winning that set. That's it.
Q. Did you ever think you might
lose this match tonight?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, there were times where I wasn't
playing my best, but there were times where I hit some
good shots, too. Then it kind of started swinging my way
to more and more good shots on my end.
Like I said, I think she played well. She played really
well. She gave it all she had. Really made me win the
match, so I have to give a lot of credit to her for
really playing well.
Q. At this point, based on what
you felt so far in the match with whatever is bothering
you, do you think you're going to play doubles, or is
that up in the air?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I love doubles. I'm going to do my best
to stay in, definitely. That hasn't even crossed my mind
if I'm going to pull out yet. I don't know, it's like a
commitment. When you enter, it's a commitment. It's been
so long, so I would like to try to win that title, too.
Q. Did you change your strategy
at all with all the backhand winners she had throughout
the match?
VENUS WILLIAMS: Did she have a lot of winners? I have
to look at the stats. I don't remember that many winners
from her.
I think she did prefer her backhand. But, yes, she hit
both sides well tonight.
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