After 14 years on tour, Venus Williams is still living the dream – with no end in sight.
“The dream’s still large. It’s just big, huge,” she said in her pre-tournament press conference.
“I’m going to live the dream as long as I can. When the dream’s over, I’m going to think about when I was living the dream.”
The world No. 7, seeded sixth going into Australian Open 2009, is going into the tournament quietly confident.
The elder Williams sister – the one without an Australian Open title under her belt – was laidback during her press conference on Saturday before the real work begins come Monday.
“Obviously I feel good. I definitely feel like one of the players who has the opportunity to take it home,” Williams said.
But she acknowledged there was a big difference between feeling confident and holding up the trophy.
“The matches haven’t even started yet so … I’ve got to get through that first one, then through the rest.”
And while sister Serena was adamant during her interview that she saw herself as No. 1, no matter what the official rankings said, Venus was more introspective.
“In my mind I always tell myself that. Right now I’m not No.1, so the number and everything isn’t matching up. But I hope to get there.”
And the attitude towards her perceived rivals was similar.
“I really look towards myself and inwards. So I’m looking to see what I can accomplish on my side of the net.”
She maintained however that being the official No.1 was significant.
“I think No.1 does matter. It all matters at the end of the day, because me and the rest of the women on tour, and I’m sure the men too, we give 100 per cent. So any reward, ranking, tournaments, points, what it may be, it all matters.”
On the topic of her sister, Venus was forthcoming with praise.
“I’m sure she’s in good form. She knows how to play tennis and she’s a champion.”
Venus herself is not in bad form, having collecting her seventh Grand Slam singles title on the grass courts of Wimbledon, beating none other than Serena in the final.
She ended last season with her first-ever WTA Tour Championships title along with a nine-match winning streak, including victories over the likes of Dinara Safina, Elena Dementieva and current world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic.
In her first round match at Australian Open 2009, Venus will go head-to-head with Germany’s Angelique Kerber, currently ranked at 100. The 20-year-old made it through qualifying at the Sydney International but fell in the first round to world No. 27 Kaia Kanepi in straight sets.
No comments posted
