Venus Williams Opens Up on Clay Court Memories, Commentary Debut, and Coco Gauff’s Future at Roland Garros

[Applause, music, laughter] – Tennis legend Venus Williams lit up the TNT Sports studio this week with her trademark humor, candor, and storytelling. The seven-time Grand Slam champion, who is currently fronting her new series Rolling with Venus, sat down to talk about Paris, the demands of clay, her transition into commentary, and her memories of playing alongside and against her sister Serena.

“Rolling” into Paris
Williams joked about the title of her new show, which dives into tennis, art, life, and culture in Paris. “It’s all about Paris, about tennis… it’s just quite fun to share all these different things on the air. Like, nobody really knows what the clay is made out of,” Venus explained. The revelation that Roland Garros clay courts are made from crushed brick sparked surprise in the studio, with the hosts marveling at the insider detail only a player of Venus’s stature could provide.

On Becoming a Commentator
Though she’s no stranger to cameras, Williams admitted that stepping into commentary has been nerve-wracking. “People can watch you and say like, ‘Oh, that sucks.’ That’s your biggest fear,” she confessed with a laugh. She even approached broadcaster Alex Corretja for advice, who told her simply: “Be yourself. Be authentic.” Venus quipped, “If I’m too much myself, people will know that I’m a little crazy — but crazy gives you the spice of life.”

Early Paris Memories with Serena
Reminiscing about her teenage years, Venus painted a vivid picture of arriving in Paris with Serena when they were just 16 and 15. “We were so young and still in high school. We didn’t even know how to deal with jet lag. We kept missing practice, so we had to literally stand up to stay awake,” she laughed. Those formative years later gave rise to unforgettable moments — their first doubles major, finals against one another, and even a mixed doubles showdown. “Playing with each other, against each other, that was our dream. It was tricky, but it was still the dream.”

American Tennis and Coco Gauff’s Rise

Williams also weighed in on the strong showing of American players at Roland Garros this year, highlighting young stars like Hailey Baptiste and Alicia Parks. She spoke most passionately about Coco Gauff, who famously forgot her rackets but still powered through her matches. “She killed it,” Venus said proudly. “She has the potential to win this title. The stars have to align, but if you can figure out how to win on the bad days, that builds so much confidence.”

When asked about Gauff’s fashion choice of walking onto the court in a leather jacket, Venus beamed. “I didn’t know I could wear a leather jacket on the court! Now everybody knows — you may wear leather. In fact, you should wear leather.” She praised Gauff for breaking barriers in tennis fashion while maintaining humility and fierce competitiveness. “She’s so sweet, so humble, so fierce. Maybe she’s too hard on herself, but that passion shows greatness.”

Predictions and Djokovic Admiration
When pressed on predictions, Venus stayed diplomatic: “As a player, you know you don’t know who’s going to be across the net. What matters is that you get there.” Still, she admitted she’d love to see Gauff lift the women’s trophy and Novak Djokovic claim a historic 25th Grand Slam. “We’ve lost Rafa, we’ve lost Federer. We’ve got to keep him a little while longer.”

A Studio Send-Off
The interview ended in playful fashion, with Venus tossing signed tennis balls into the audience, delighting fans in the studio. Her charisma, humility, and openness turned what could have been a routine sports segment into a heartfelt reflection on legacy, passion, and the joy of tennis.

From teenage memories with Serena to championing the next generation, Venus Williams once again proved that her presence — whether on court or behind the mic — continues to be a gift to the sport.