I don't have time to be negative.
— Venus Williams
If the sun comes up, I have a chance.
My ambition is to enjoy my life and to do exactly what I want to do. And I'll do that. I will be free.
I don't focus on what I'm up against. I focus on my goals and I try to ignore the rest.
My first job is big sister and I take that very seriously.
I've always found the rain very calming.
Everything is tennis for me, it's my career and it's entertainment, but it's also a business.
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.
If I don't wear something I feel confident in, I don't play as well.
I wear a lot of tight dresses, so I'm like, 'I need to do my sit-ups!'
I say accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. If you don't accessorize, someone else will.
Since I started playing at the Olympics in 2000, I have always wanted to do a dress based on Wonder Woman. It should be interesting to wear. And hopefully, it will get me a gold medal.
My dresses are designed to win, so going through it, I think about, what do I want to represent? So, definitely, Vera Wang has been an inspiration for me.
Right now, I'm at the top of the world in my game so my focus isn't on when I'm going to end. My focus is on playing the best tennis that I can, and there is no end to that.
In the sports arena I would say there is nothing like training and preparation. You have to train your mind as much as your body.
Losses have propelled me to even bigger places, so I understand the importance of losing. You can never get complacent because a loss is always around the corner. It's in any game that you're in - a business game or whatever - you can't get complacent.
Sjogren's is something you live with your whole life. The good news for me is now I know what's happening after spending years not knowing... I feel like I can get better and move on.
Life is challenging but I'm always up for a challenge.
I guess tennis is my main art, but fashion is definitely very close.
I know it's not the most important thing for me to win the most Grand Slams and be remembered in this world. I certainly don't have to win little tournaments here, there and everywhere, I don't have to win at all. Although I do want to.
I'm this overachiever type, I'll just work and work and I'll just do it over and over and over again.
I knew my destiny was to be in the winner's circle. There were times along the way where I didn't make it there. But I felt my destiny was definitely to win big titles, win lots of titles.
Rain is good for me. I feel like I achieve clarity actually when it rains. The longer I have to sit and wait, the clearer my game becomes to me.
I guess rumors are more exciting than the truth.
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.
No TV, no acting for me. I'm kind of a more behind-the-scenes kind of woman even though what I do is very public. I'm really low-key and I don't need to be the center of attention.
I don't carry a purse when I fly because I have my Hello Kitty carry-on. I'm the biggest adult supporter.
The principle of the design - the harmony, rhythm and balance are all the same with interior and fashion design.
I'm only seeing tennis balls these days. And maybe the occasional fashion sketch.
All those lessons that I've learned on the court, I have applied them to my life outside of the court in business, my company, called V Starr interiors, an interior design company, and EleVen, which I wear on court.
Some people say I have attitude - maybe I do... but I think you have to. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does - that makes you a winner right there.
Unfortunately the world is what it is now. People don't get along for whatever reason. As professional athletes, in a way we're almost ambassadors for peace, because sports brings everyone together.
I have been recently diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome, an autoimmune disease which is an ongoing medical condition that affects my energy level and causes fatigue and joint pain.
Grand Slam losses are hard. I treat myself after losses though, I usually go to McDonald's and I have a hamburger and you know, something. Because you know, you just need to be nice to yourself sometimes after the loss.
I just try to stay positive and focused on the tennis, not let anything get to me, like crazy questions. But I'm tough, let me tell you, tough as nails.
If I didn't play tennis I don't know where I'd be.
I guess some kids around me had to grow up quickly, had all those problems. But I wasn't one of those kids, or around those kids, not at all.
I tend to be slim and you know, I actually can lose weight quicker than I can gain it.
I think I can change the game.
A lot of times when you play... you get this adrenalin that blocks pain.
Everyone makes their own comments. That's how rumors get started.
To stay interested in tennis, I have to mix it up with other things.
Serena and I have done some great career planning, and we're playing really at the peak of our tennis right now. I think tennis has been a sport where people play this insane schedule from 14 years old, so of course at 26, it's over. We've really paced ourselves.
I'm not a trend person. I don't want to look to my right and see somebody in the same thing.
My style is kind of eclectic and I don't like to do the same thing over and over again. I like to have fun and explore myself so you won't see the same design.
'Oh and Oh' is a tennis term... It's a nice way of saying you took your opponent to pieces.
It's what I've trained for, from the first sketch to the fabric. Making dresses that are different from the usual style, and a lot of fun to wear.
Interior design is a business of trust.
For years I felt that I didn't have enough stamina and then, four years ago, I felt like I was not getting enough air but I was diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma. The medicine for asthma never worked.
The big push for me is the Olympics this year. If I'm healthy, I'm not worried about my ranking. I think I can hit the ball. It's just about my body cooperating. It's about being able to play matches in a row. Right now, I'm not sure how much I can do with that, but we'll see.
