[dmitrynts]

Venus Williams is a multitasker. A winner of seven Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold medal, she also has her own fashion line, EleVen, and an interior design firm, V Starr Interiors.
In her new book "Come to Play," Ms. Williams serves up a collection of essays with prominent figures, including former President Bill Clinton, designer Vera Wang and Nike Inc. founder Philip Knight, about how sports has helped them in their careers.
Venus: Through the Years





Associated Press Since turning pro at the age of 14 in 1994, Venus Williams has won seven Grand Slam singles titles, including five Wimbledon championships. She also won the Olympic gold medal in women's singles in 2000.





The 30-year old tennis star chatted with The Wall Street Journal about her preparations for the U.S. Open in August, her status as the oldest women's player in the top 40 and whether she plans to retire soon.
The Wall Street Journal: It sounds like you have quite the busy summer ahead. How are you juggling your book tour while still preparing for the U.S. Open?
Venus Williams: [Laughs] A little bit busy, yeah. Some practice and [World Team Tennis] matches, so I'm not too worried.
WSJ: What have you learned while working on this project and has it helped your tennis game?
Ms. Williams: Well, I definitely learned a lot about journalism. [Laughs] I also learned a lot from the contributors, having a whole new perspective on winning and losing and lessons learned in life. I found it inspirational.
WSJ: What contributors in the book did you get most excited about?
Ms. Williams: I love fashion, so I was excited to have Vera Wang in the book. I have so much respect for Condoleezza Rice and the things that she's done. But it would be hard to pick a favorite.
WSJ: You're involved in numerous projects. This book, an interior design firm, your clothing line. Should tennis fans be worried? How long do you plan to keep playing on tour?
Ms. Williams: Well, until I'm no good. So far, I'm still good. So nothing to be concerned about right now.
WSJ: You've mentioned before that you plan to play at least until the 2012 London Olympics.
Ms. Williams: [Laughs] I know, it's around the corner, huh? Every time I mention that I will play until "X" date, it always gets extended. It's still fun. I love it. There's really no time frame.
WSJ: Do you know that you are the oldest player in the top 45?
Ms. Williams: That's awesome. I love it!
WSJ: Any guesses on who is the highest ranked player older than you?
Ms. Williams: No. I don't look at those stats.
WSJ: [Austria's] Sybille Bammer, who is ranked No. 48.
Ms. Williams: Oh really? How old is she?
WSJ: April 27, 1980. [Ms. Williams was born on June 17, 1980.] And I ask this next question, realizing that you are still one of the people standing in the way. But with the way your sister Serena has been dominating the majors, passing Billie Jean King on the Grand Slam list with 13 majors, she's now five away from Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert's 18 major titles. Can she do it?
Ms. Williams: That would be fantastic, because they are among the greatest players. But you have to wait until it's all said and done to add them up. I don't think she's focusing on their records at all.
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Action Images/ZUMApress.com Venus Williams returns a ball during her third-round match at Wimbledon, in late June.






WSJ: Serena said her Grand Slam trophies are scattered around your two homes and she's lost track of where they all are. Do you know where all yours are?
Ms. Williams: No, they are everywhere. They spill over, they are everywhere. [Laughs]
WSJ: Do you use the Venus Rosewater dish [the Wimbledon women's championship trophy] and other trophies for other things? Serena joked that she uses some for her make-up brushes and another for serving lemonade.
Ms. Williams: [Laughs] Maybe she does.
WSJ: The outfit you wore at the French Open created a bit of a stir. At Wimbledon, you wore a dress inspired by Tina Turner. What should we expect for the U.S. Open?
Ms. Williams: You should expect the dress to be very New York. It will be fun if you know my track record with the designs. Fun but functional.
WSJ: Can you give us a preview? There will be a daytime outfit and an outfit for the night matches, right?
Ms. Williams: [Laughs] I really can't say. That would spoil it. But yeah, there will be a couple outfits. I think people will like it.
WSJ: Where does the name for your fashion line EleVen come from?
Ms. Williams: EleVen is about being better than the best. It's a step above a 10.
WSJ: How much of the Isner-Mahut marathon Wimbledon match did you watch?
Ms. Williams: I started my match and they weren't finished. I ended my match and they weren't finished. I played another match the next day and they weren't finished. It was interesting.
WSJ: You and your sister are part-owners of the Miami Dolphins. How's the team looking this year?
Ms. Williams: Football season is coming up pretty soon, isn't it? I thought we did pretty well last year. This year, hopefully, we can take it a little further.
WSJ: How many games do you try and make it to?
Ms. Williams: I'm in season, so last year, I got to about three games.
WSJ: You've said you feel like you've gotten wiser as a tennis player with age. So hypothetically, if the 2010 version of Venus Williams played the 2000 version of Venus Williams, who would win?
Ms. Williams: [Sighs] Oh gosh. I'd have to vote for myself now

[toreesi]

Venus Williams is a multitasker. A winner of seven Grand Slam singles titles and an Olympic gold medal, she also has her own fashion line, EleVen, and an interior design firm, V Starr Interiors.
In her new book "Come to Play," Ms. Williams serves up a collection of essays with prominent figures, including former President Bill Clinton, designer Vera Wang and Nike Inc. founder Philip Knight, about how sports has helped them in their careers.
Venus: Through the Years





Associated Press Since turning pro at the age of 14 in 1994, Venus Williams has won seven Grand Slam singles titles, including five Wimbledon championships. She also won the Olympic gold medal in women's singles in 2000.





The 30-year old tennis star chatted with The Wall Street Journal about her preparations for the U.S. Open in August, her status as the oldest women's player in the top 40 and whether she plans to retire soon.
The Wall Street Journal: It sounds like you have quite the busy summer ahead. How are you juggling your book tour while still preparing for the U.S. Open?
Venus Williams: [Laughs] A little bit busy, yeah. Some practice and [World Team Tennis] matches, so I'm not too worried.
WSJ: What have you learned while working on this project and has it helped your tennis game?
Ms. Williams: Well, I definitely learned a lot about journalism. [Laughs] I also learned a lot from the contributors, having a whole new perspective on winning and losing and lessons learned in life. I found it inspirational.
[
...

Does anyone give a more boring interview than Venus? I can't believe they even ran this.

[Unjucky]

Does anyone give a more boring interview than Venus? I can't believe they even ran this.

Ha! It was definitely low key.

I did think there were a few interesting tidbits. I like that she said she would beat the 2000 version of herself.

I also had no idea she was part owner of the Miami Dolphins.

[toreesi]

I also had no idea she was part owner of the Miami Dolphins.

How can you not know that? Look how many posts and medals you have!

[Unjucky]

How can you not know that? Look how many posts and medals you have!

All the better to lull you into a false sense of security, my dear.

[kesFockplek]

Does anyone give a more boring interview than Venus? I can't believe they even ran this.

Seriously, though, who in the WTA gives a consistently good interview (in English)? Jelena can be entertaining, but also can be extremely whiney. Serena can be fun, but can also be insufferable at times. Kim is too polite, uses too many "yeahs", and feels like autopilot at times. Justine is usually a boring interview. Schiavone is entertaining, but her command of the English language tends to lead to things being short. Safina acts like she is going to pick up her racket and hit an interviewer over the head sometimes.

The last consistently good interview I remember was Tatiana Golovin. She lit up the room, had a good balance of humor and understanding of her role in an interview, spoke well. and came across as quite charming.

[toreesi]

Seriously, though, who in the WTA gives a consistently good interview (in English)? Jelena can be entertaining, but also can be extremely whiney. Serena can be fun, but can also be insufferable at times. Kim is too polite, uses too many "yeahs", and feels like autopilot at times. Justine is usually a boring interview. Schiavone is entertaining, but her command of the English language tends to lead to things being short. Safina acts like she is going to pick up her racket and hit an interviewer over the head sometimes.

The last consistently good interview I remember was Tatiana Golovin. She lit up the room, had a good balance of humor and understanding of her role in an interview, spoke well. and came across as quite charming.

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.

[KatoabamyHant]

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.