Wimbledon--what they said

Can you talk a little bit about how you separate Serena as the sister and then as the rival?
"Well, it's real easy to separate it when you get a serve at about 127 and it comes back as a winner. You soon realize you're playing against an awesome player, and you better really get ready on your toes. So that's exactly when you separate it."

Venus Williams

Can you comment just two things: A woman who served 20 aces in a match like this, and the number 1 of the world who loses 6‑1, 6‑love. What you can say about that?
"I served 20 aces today?"

Serena Williams

"...that was the best match we ever played against each other."

Elena Dementieva

Do you realize it's the longest semifinal in Wimbledon history. What's your reaction to that?
"I guess I'm always trying to do something to make history, so here I go again."

Serena Williams

Today do you think you were 6‑1, 6‑love stronger than Safina, or something happened to her? The score is very strange.
"I like the score...."

Venus Williams

"I wasn't sure if it's Serena or Andy Roddick on the other side, 125 all the time."

Elena Dementieva

"The way she plays, she has the ball and she goes straight for the winner. She puts you from the first point under pressure. Me, I need a little bit of time. I need to create the point. Here I have no time for this."

Dinara Safina

Does your head‑to‑head record against Venus matter to you?...You're aware it's 10‑10?...Would you like it to end even?
"Would I like it to end even? Of course not. Then I wouldn't win. I'm sure she feels the same."

Serena Williams

She seems to like playing against you. She likes the level of rallies and balls and everything.
"I hope not."

Elena Dementieva

Do you feel there are any kinks you have to get out of the game, or is everything kind of clicking in?
"There's no time for kinks right now. There's not even time to think about kinks."

Venus Williams

This isn't your fault obviously because you played really well, but it's embarrassing for women's tennis to see the number 1 destroyed in that way, isn't it?
"Why do you put it like that?"
You played very well.
"Are you trying to be down on women's tennis?"
I'm trying to be down on the way that Safina is the world number 1 representing women's tennis.
"So you're trying to be down basically."
Not on women's tennis, no.
"Okay, because I don't deal with down at all."
It's not down.
"I'm just making sure you're not trying to be down, because I respect Dinara Safina immensely, and I think you should, too."
I do.
"Thanks."

Venus Williams