Venus Williams

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

I'm always on the court with my dad.

My dad loves to eat, and he loves everything I make!

It wasn't like I was self-motivated. My dad started me. It was his dream before it was mine.

My mom didn't want us to go to the candy house, she didn't want us to go to the ice cream truck, she didn't want us to go to the... There was actually a donut truck, if that makes sense.

My style is kind of eclectic and I don't like to do the same thing over and over again. I like to have fun and explore myself so you won't see the same design.

I love design.

All those lessons that I've learned on the court, I have applied them to my life outside of the court in business, my company, called V Starr interiors, an interior design company, and EleVen, which I wear on court.

The principle of the design - the harmony, rhythm and balance are all the same with interior and fashion design.

I do expect a lot from myself, but it's also a balance of being... positive and also pushing yourself.

I just try to stay positive and focused on the tennis, not let anything get to me, like crazy questions. But I'm tough, let me tell you, tough as nails.

I guess rumors are more exciting than the truth.

I have been recently diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome, an autoimmune disease which is an ongoing medical condition that affects my energy level and causes fatigue and joint pain.

You have to let fear go. Another lesson is you just have to believe in yourself; you just have to. There's no way around it. No matter how things are stacked against you, you just have to every time.

If the sun comes up, I have a chance.

I want my opponents to look at me across the net and just not want to play me because I look so fit and amazing and strong. So that's always my goal.

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.

I love the food in Thailand because of the exotic spices they use. Their style of cooking is unique to their culture and always amazing.