I feel definitely more comfortable going into that match than, for example, today, i had never played( McHale) before, so you feel like you don't really know what's going to happen. Earlier, Latvian 11th seed Anastasija Sevastova became the latest player to be stuck down with a viral illness at the tournament. Sevastova was down 5-0 in the first set of her third round match with Estonian 21st seed Anett Kontaveit when she retired. Her departure came less than 24 hours after Venus Williams was unable to continue Venus Williams match on Sunday, also citing a viral illness. Men's third seed Alexander Zverev also said on Monday after losing to fellow German Jan-Lennard Struff that he too had a virus. Among those women still feeling healthy, three-times grand slam champion Angelique Kerber battled back to beat Russian qualifier Natalia Vikhlyantseva 3-6 6-1 6-3. Kerber took a while to warm to her task on a cool morning in the California desert.

Venus Williams

Categorized in : Sports

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.

Venus Williams

motivational positive inspirational

I don't focus on what I'm up against. I focus on my goals and I try to ignore the rest.

Venus Williams

badass inspiring inspirational

My motto is: I'm alive, so that means I can do anything.

Venus Williams

tennis alive mean

Just believe in yourself. Even if you don't, pretend that you do and, at some point, you will.

Venus Williams

confidence fitness believe

In my mind, I'm always the best. If I walk out on the court (and) I think the next person is better, I've already lost.

Venus Williams

tennis player thinking

If I cared deeply about what people thought of me, I probably would have never made it out of Compton, California.

Venus Williams

california made people

Of course, I want to be number one. But being happy and healthy is the most important thing.

Venus Williams

numbers being-happy sports

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.

Venus Williams

losing games loss

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.

Venus Williams

skills winning play

I don't have time to be negative.

Venus Williams

negative

It's amazing when tragedy strikes, how strong you find that you are, and I'd seen other people go through horrible things. And I just thought, "Wow, I would be a complete mess," and then suddenly when it happens, you realize you had more strength than you knew and it helps you to get through.

Venus Williams

strong tragedy people

When you lose, you're more motivated. When you win, you fail to see your mistakes and probably no one can tell you anything.

Venus Williams

failing winning mistake

My first job is big sister and I take that very seriously.

Venus Williams

big-sister jobs firsts

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.

Venus Williams

tennis preparation sports

Id like to imagine that in order to beat me a person would have to play almost perfect tennis.

Venus Williams

almost-perfect play order

Everybody's got their problems. The important thing is not to complain about it.

Venus Williams

important problem complaining

It's easy to stand back, but to move forward and take a chance, that takes a little more guts, a little more courage.

Venus Williams

chance littles moving

Nerves are normal. You can't be cured from them unless you're a machine.

Venus Williams

machines nerves normal

My motto has always been that you can't say, 'Oh, it won't happen to me.' You have to say, 'That can happen to me.' So always be aware that things can happen.

Venus Williams

my-motto motto athlete

As far as everyone else's opinion, I mean, if I would have thought that everyone was right, I probably wouldn't have left Compton, so I don't get too caught up on what the next person thinks.

Venus Williams

next mean thinking