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American Morning

Interview with Venus, Serena Williams

Aired June 12, 2002 - 07:52   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We talked about Serena Williams earlier today. It is the ultimate sibling rival, Venus and Serena. This past weekend, Serena defeated her big sister, Venus, to win the French Open in Paris, and now the Williams sisters are making history.

They are ranked number one and number two in the world of women's tennis, and both, Serena and Venus, join us live today from West Palm Beach, Florida.

What a week for you guys, huh?

SERENA WILLIAMS, FRENCH OPEN CHAMPION: Yes, pretty much. We are really excited about it. We really have been blessed.

HEMMER: Yes. Have you thought about the fact that you are one and two in the world, the first time ever for sisters, the first time ever also for African-Americans, men or women? Have you thought about that significance? Serena, you first.

S. WILLIAMS: Well, when you are at our age, it's kind of hard really to see that you are making history. I think maybe a few years from now, maybe when we are done with our sports, we will really be able to see all of the stuff that we have been able to do fortunately enough. But right now, we are just focused...

HEMMER: So it hasn't crossed your mind then, huh?

S. WILLIAMS: Not really. We are just focused on -- we have Wimbledon around the corner, and we are just focusing on that.

HEMMER: Hey, Venus, how are you feeling? Your little sister beat you up this past weekend?

VENUS WILLIAMS, TENNIS CHAMPION: Yes, I am feeling OK. I am surviving.

(CROSSTALK)

HEMMER: Yes. Have you thought about that same question that I just asked your sister?

V. WILLIAMS: I don't really think it has settled in yet. I think maybe for our parents or for our family it means -- or they can really see the significance of it, especially as we are at the top of our sports and being in the same family, it's pretty rare. So we have been really blessed, and I think that more than anything we owe it to our mom and dad.

HEMMER: Hey, your dad has been bragging for several years that this was going to happen. How is he feeling now?

S. WILLIAMS: Yes. Well, he is very excited about the whole thing of us going out there and making it happen. You know, we wouldn't have been able to do it without either of our parents, because they really had our best (ph) there.

V. WILLIAMS: And he did a great job with us. Honestly, if it hadn't been for my dad and having a mom sticking in there with us through the good times and the bad times...

HEMMER: Wow!

V. WILLIAMS: ... and all of the wins and the losses, we wouldn't be here talking to you today.

HEMMER: Do you think he feels a little redeemed in all of this right now?

V. WILLIAMS: No, I don't think so. I think that he really believed in what he was doing. We really believed in all of the time that he put out in the court, and when you really put in the hard work, you get the results usually.

HEMMER: Hey, Serena, after your victory this past weekend, Jennifer Capriati had suggested that perhaps you guys are in some sort of collusion, fixing your schedule so that you protect each other through tournaments. Your reaction to that. Is there anything to it?

S. WILLIAMS: Well, no, not really. I don't really understand really the comment on how we fix our schedules to protect each other. I think if anything, if we played more events together, then we would have more points, and the more points you have on the tour, the higher you are ranked. Well, you know, we are just happy to be where we are and we're just doing the best we can.

HEMMER: Listen, what's it like when you guys face off, not just on the tennis court, but in a match that truly has a world title on the line? I have to think that when you oppose each other that the competition is somewhat different, because after all, you have spent your entire lives together.

S. WILLIAMS: Yes, it is different, that's for sure.

V. WILLIAMS: Yes, we play a different opponent, somebody you don't have to live with every day of your life. It is quite different, because we know each other personally. We are sisters. We are only a year apart. We used to be in the same class sometimes.

S. WILLIAMS: But when it's like a championship like that on the line, we played each other at the U.S. Open in 2001 and here at the French. It was a big championship like that I think we both want to go out there and we both want to win, and we both want to get another grand slam under our belts.

V. WILLIAMS: Yes, because I did try to win.

S. WILLIAMS: We are both really fired.

HEMMER: I am sorry about that, Venus -- maybe next time. But does your game change at all, your strategy, the way you approach it, anything like that?

V. WILLIAMS: You have to have a plan going into a match no matter who you play...

S. WILLIAMS: Yes, you have to.

V. WILLIAMS: ... yes, for sure.

S. WILLIAMS: And normally playing Venus, she is a very tough opponent, but I think one of my toughest out there, so it's like I have to play at a much higher level than I do when I am playing anyone else.

HEMMER: Hey, listen, good luck at Wimbledon, June 24, just a few short weeks away...

V. WILLIAMS: Thank you.

S. WILLIAMS: Thanks.

HEMMER: ... and we shall see then. You guys are great -- thanks for being with us this morning...

V. WILLIAMS: Thank you.

S. WILLIAMS: Thank you.

HEMMER: ... Venus and Serena, one and two on the planet today. Many thanks -- we'll talk again.

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