Venus thrives in post-match press in Cincinnati

When Venus Williams outlasted defending Cincinnati champion Kiki Bertens in a final set tiebreaker to win their second-round clash on Tuesday, one might have expected the 39-year-old to be exhausted in her post-match media hits.

Instead, the seven-time major singles champion was full of exuberance in her press conference and was especially enthused to stop by and chat with Tennis Channel.

"I’ve been seeing your interviews with Serena. And I’ve been very, very, very jealous," she told Prakash Amritraj. "Now I’m finally here with you!”

Here are the Top 5 quotes from Venus following her latest victory.

1

Amritraj asked how she seamlessly balances her duties, from being professional athlete to running two businesses, but Venus was quick to drop a bit of self-deprecation. “When you lose, it’s real easy to get focused. That’s all I can say. And there have been losses.”

2

When asked in press if she had a campaign platform for her WTA Player council re-election bid, Venus laughed before responding, “I don't think it's like high school, like, better school lunch or something, or lobster in the players lounge.”

3

Considering muting Amritraj on Instagram after scrolling through numerous posts of the Indian showing off his ripped physique, Venus asked him, “How do I get a six-pack? I have a bet with one of my friends and if we don’t get one, we have to run a half marathon. My knees and feet won’t take it, so I’ll have to retire. I have to actually get this six-pack.”

4

In talking with press about why she launched her own YouTube channel, Venus explained before ending her presser with, “You guys write what you want and then I get to say what I want.”

5

Amritraj gave Venus props on being "more professional" than Serena in his interviews, before Venus decided to cut him off by revealing, “She was probably thinking about the shorts you wore at the invitational.”

Venus will take on Donna Vekic on Thursday.