Oprah Talks to Venus and Serena Williams
PAGE 4
Oprah: Venus, I notice you're wearing a ring. Does it mean anything?
Venus: It was a gift. I've given a lot of my other rings to my grandmother, but I decided to keep this one.
Oprah: Is that all you're going to tell me?
Venus: Yes! [Laughter.]
Oprah: I can appreciate that—I tried, but you wouldn't give it up! Did you know there's a rumor that you're married?
Venus: [Gasps.] What? Will you please tell me who I'm married to? Is he handsome?
Oprah: He's tall.
Venus: Oh, is he? Those rumors get out there every so often. This is not about me!
Oprah: Okay. Getting back to tennis, how do you prepare for competition?
Venus: Tennis is mostly mental. Of course, you must have a lot of physical skill, but you can't play tennis well and not be a good thinker. You win or lose the match before you even go out there. You also win with your reputation and how you played the day before. Serena and I have a history of winning, and we hope that continues.
Oprah: When the two top-ranked women in tennis step onto the court, isn't that already a head trip for the opponent?
Venus: I think so. My goal is always the same: to keep the other player from ever scoring a point. That doesn't always happen, but that's what I try for.
Oprah: Years ago, your father predicted you'd become the top two players in the world. Did you have that same vision for yourselves?
Serena: One day my dad just said to each of us, "Go ahead—pick a tournament you want to win."
Venus: I said Wimbledon.
Serena: I said Wimbledon, too, and he demanded that I pick another tournament.