williams

Serena and Dementiava put on a heck of a match today. Here at fuzzy we like them both. Elena has the prettiest strokes in women's tennis right now, and she has developed the serve to match. She seemed stronger today, and Serena seemed to pull it out on sheer will. Impressive.

But Venus, long the classiest player on tour, was just as impressive, even if Dinara did not push her to show her best stuff in the match. She was even more impressive in her presser. Here is her exchange with a petulant reporter:

Q. This isn't your fault obviously because you played really well, but it's embarrassing for women's tennis to see the No. 1 destroyed in that way, isn't it?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Why do you put it like that?

Q. You played very well.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Are you trying to be down on women's tennis?

Q. I'm trying to be down on the way that Safina is the world No. 1 representing women's tennis.

VENUS WILLIAMS: So you're trying to be down basically.

Q. Not on women's tennis, no.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Okay, because I don't deal with down at all.

Q. It's not down.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm just making sure you're not trying to be down, because I respect Dinara Safina immensely, and I think you should, too.

Q. I do.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Thanks.