THE SCOOP: U.S. OPEN DAY 13, SEPTEMBER 7

From the mouth of mom:
Oracene Williams talks about the final

By Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

FROM THE U.S. OPEN – Initially, Oracene Williams did not want to chat with four reporters that sought her out after daughter, Serena Williams worked her sisterly magic for a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Venus to win the U.S. Open.

The victory not only dethroned Venus as the two-time Open champion, but secured Serena’s position as the No. 1 player in the world, winning the last three Grand Slams – Roland Garros, Wimbledon and now the U.S. Open – over Venus.

After we nixed her early suggestion that we go seek out her estranged husband, Richard, to talk about the match, insisting that we wanted her thoughts, Oracene in her usual affable manner began to give her insight into her daughters.

Below are remarks from Oracene’s conversation.
“My only comment is that Serena played like the No. 1 player in the world that she is for sure, for sure, for sure. She’s worked really hard to be there. Serena is just playing a high quality of tennis these days. Venus suffered with her serve; it was a little off just like yesterday (when she beat Amelie Mauresmo in the semifinals). I think the difference is that Serena was hitting deep and hard and it’s hard for Venus to come in on that.

“I think if Venus was playing her best tennis and Serena was playing her best tennis, it would’ve been a totally different match, probably three sets for sure. [Of the three Grand Slam finals they played this year] Wimbledon was the best match they’ve played. For Venus for sure, it was her best match. But Serena was just awesome there. Serena’s confidence is just up these days. I think when Serena made up her mind she wanted to do well this year, it happened. Venus, right now, has other things on her mind besides tennis, like her fashion. I don’t think she’s going to go to school this fall. I think she’s going to play a little bit at the fall tournaments.

“Serena, she just knows everything that is going on around her and she can still play her tennis. She sees things I never see. Like in practice, she’ll see something I just never see. She just always aware of everything out there and it doesn’t affect her tennis.

“We’ll see what happens when Venus makes up her mind to play at the top because when the girls make up their mind, they do it. If Venus were to make up her mind to win all four of them [the Grand Slams], she’d do it. I think that Serena made up her mind that she wanted to do well because she was disappointed she couldn’t play Australia (because of an ankle injury). I don’t know what would happen if they both decided they wanted to do the same thing at the same time. If they both were on the same plane at the same time, it would be tough. I hope it doesn’t happen since it would be too intense.

HOW DO THE PLAYERS REACT?
As to what she will say to her daughters after the match, in particular to Venus, Oracene said, “I don’t say anything to them after they play, I just say things to them during practice. After the match, they both have to come down … the winner has to come down and the loser has to come down.”

About having to watch her daughters compete, Oracene said, ‘I don’t really enjoy any of that, being out there when they’re playing each other. When one is losing, I feel sorry for the other one, when the other one is losing, I feel sorry for them. Right now, Serena’s playing better, that’s why she’s No. 1.”

As to her astonished facial expression when she heard that Serena won $900,000 as champion, she said, “A $900,000 check, I didn’t know it was that much and I know Serena (laughing). If Serena knew how much it was before the match, it would be great motivation for her to win.”