More than 30 years of play and 49 titles later, Venus Williams has proven herself under pressure: today, the most decorated tennis player in Olympic history is in the Queen City to play a match against reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys.
Before her match at the Charlotte Invitational, Williams sat down with Channel 9 sports reporter DaShawn Brown to talk about her storied career and her planned match with Keys.
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Dashawn Brown: I think people would be surprised to learn that even at this point in your career – with everything you’ve accomplished – you still carry this pressure. Where does it come from?
Venus Williams: “You know, I haven’t played a match in a while. It’s been a few months. I’m going to test myself as well, but hopefully I’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
Brown: Speaking of Madison, have you heard the story of how she got started in tennis?
Williams: “It’s very cool… Last night I found out what dress it was, she said she saw this person on TV playing in a tennis dress and she said, “Mom, I want that dress”… and (she) said you have to play tennis if you want that dress. Now here she is, a Grand Slam champion, a great American player and very cool, so I’m glad I wore this dress.”
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Brown: What you mean to the sport and to many of us, I include myself in that category, how do you receive that?
Williams: “It’s a little surreal. It’s OK, I heard it’s true… when you start playing you just want to win a big title, to be at your best; but when all these other things happen like that, it’s incredible.”
Brown: For you, what motivates you to continue playing this game?
Williams: “I can’t imagine the future without tennis, so at some point, even if I’m never on tour, I’ll still hit the ball. And so, even if I still hit the ball well, I wonder why not.
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It wasn’t easy to come back to play after two years off. It was stressful.
But I started to realize that people were really happy for me and supportive and it was great to share that with me and I think it took a lot of pressure off. So yes, I still have love, I love what I do. I will never play a full program, but I will show up here and there. »
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Brown: I was listening to you and Serena reflect on your podcast about this internal motivation…I heard her say that it was more of a chip and some of the outside noise that would fuel her engine and for you the focus was always on you. How did you develop this mindset?
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Williams: “Every person is different, and we all get to the same place in different ways, and I think we learned a lot about each other in this podcast. I didn’t realize she had a chip on her shoulder… or a Dorito… I didn’t realize that. I was able to take what she said with me onto the field and think, oh wow, this can motivate me in a different way.”
Brown: Having him by your side throughout this journey, how has that impacted you?
Williams: “Honestly, I can’t imagine a professional athlete not playing with their brother by their side. This is my normal and I realize it’s very abnormal. But it’s our normal. It’s an incredible journey, you’re never alone, plus she’s my inspiration and you’d think it would be the other way around because I’m the older sister. I’m supposed to be the leader, but she’s completely inspired me even though she never picks up a racket or Don’t train with me.
Brown: She won’t do it?
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Williams, with a smile: “No. She’s supposed to train with me all year and she doesn’t show up once and then she blames me. Oh, you didn’t tell me what time.”
Brown: You can set the time now…you know we’re officially registered.
Williams: “Yes! Set the time. Set the time.”
Brown: Can you believe this is your life?
Williams: “Can I believe this is my life? Yes and no. Yes, because I worked to be here. No, because it could be someone else, it couldn’t be me at all. I’m happy that my parents put a racket in my hand. I’m happy that everything worked out. You never know how it’s going to turn out, but if you put in the effort, there’s always a chance.”
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