DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Venus interviewed in the Wall Street Journal

**KatoabamyHant** · 08-07-2010, 07:10 PM

Good points. I think what I'm responding to is that Venus seems to almost intentionally withhold who she is. I don't blame people for not opening the hearts to the media, or sharing everything. But with the other players, I get the sense that they are being themselves, relative to the (contrived and inherently awkward) situation. Justine may be a boring interview, but that's probably because she's a dull person. I don't think Venus is as bland as she seems in interviews. I think it's almost contrariness.

It's very annoying. Part of it probably relates to the fact that she got roasted in the press, and by fans, when she was younger. After losses, she routinely focused on her errors and didn't really give her opponents credit. Fortunately, she eventually outgrew that. She was perceived as arrogant because she had an enormous sense of self-belief, and it oozed from her. And that turned a lot of people off. And keeps them turned off to this day, in spite of how much she has worked to change her public persona.

But she clearly doesn't like to deal with the press and is over-cautious, and I guess that's better than saying things that constantly get you in trouble. But I hear you. Some 99% of her interviews leave me wanting.

Every now and then, though, she accidentally opens up and says things she wouldn't normally say and it ends up being quite revealing. The best example of that was after she won Wimbledon in 2005. In her post-match presser, she talked a good bit about the ab tear that had stolen much of the year before, and how afraid she was to play tennis because she was terrified of hurting it again. (For me, this admission completely explained her loss to Karatancheva at the French just a few weeks before and so many of the other head-scratching losses she had after coming back from the ab tear.) But when it comes to Venus, those moments are few and far between. She keeps the press, and even her fans, at an arm's-length distance. It must be quite something to know her personally and be close to her--to know what really makes her tick. Those of us who are fans THINK we know what makes her tick and how her mind works, but in reality, we're just guessing. Because she reveals so little.

On the other hand, the fact that she reveals so little actually gives us more insight into how she ticks than anything she's ever said.

08-07-2010, 07:10 PM	#8
KatoabamyHant Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 554 Senior Member	Good points. I think what I'm responding to is that Venus seems to almost intentionally withhold who she is. I don't blame people for not opening the hearts to the media, or sharing everything. But with the other players, I get the sense that they are being themselves, relative to the (contrived and inherently awkward) situation. Justine may be a boring interview, but that's probably because she's a dull person. I don't think Venus is as bland as she seems in interviews. I think it's almost contrariness. It's very annoying. Part of it probably relates to the fact that she got roasted in the press, and by fans, when she was younger. After losses, she routinely focused on her errors and didn't really give her opponents credit. Fortunately, she eventually outgrew that. She was perceived as arrogant because she had an enormous sense of self-belief, and it oozed from her. And that turned a lot of people off. And keeps them turned off to this day, in spite of how much she has worked to change her public persona. But she clearly doesn't like to deal with the press and is over-cautious, and I guess that's better than saying things that constantly get you in trouble. But I hear you. Some 99% of her interviews leave me wanting. Every now and then, though, she accidentally opens up and says things she wouldn't normally say and it ends up being quite revealing. The best example of that was after she won Wimbledon in 2005. In her post-match presser, she talked a good bit about the ab tear that had stolen much of the year before, and how afraid she was to play tennis because she was terrified of hurting it again. (For me, this admission completely explained her loss to Karatancheva at the French just a few weeks before and so many of the other head-scratching losses she had after coming back from the ab tear.) But when it comes to Venus, those moments are few and far between. She keeps the press, and even her fans, at an arm's-length distance. It must be quite something to know her personally and be close to her--to know what really makes her tick. Those of us who are fans THINK we know what makes her tick and how her mind works, but in reality, we're just guessing. Because she reveals so little. On the other hand, the fact that she reveals so little actually gives us more insight into how she ticks than anything she's ever said.
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