Venus opens up about being an inspiration

Venus Williams reaching the Australian Open final by virtue of her three-set win over CoCo Vandeweghe on Thursday made noise for many reasons.

The 36-year-old, in winning a match from a set down for the first time since January last year, became the oldest woman to reach the final Down Under and the oldest to reach a major final since a 37-year-old Martina Navratilova reached the final of Wimbledon in 1994.

But perhaps what is most impressive is how Williams is keeping her accomplishments in perspective. A reporter asked Williams about her role of inspiring people, and she responded with plenty of thought.

"People relate to the champion. They also relate to the person also who didn't win because we all have those moments in our life," Williams said. "Is it an athlete's job to inspire? Inherently what I think athletes do at a top level inspires people, but each person takes that responsibility differently."

It’s been a magical run in Melbourne for the elder Williams sister, who's facing Serena Williams in a rematch of their last Grand Slam final meeting (Wimbledon 2009).

The fortnight of success still wasn’t necessarily an expected one for the world No. 17.

"Honestly, all the signs didn't look that way in Auckland. Of course, I dreamed of it because I definitely worked hard in the offseason. It was not a great start, I'll just say that," Williams said. (She retired after her first win of 2017 with an arm injury.)

"That's why you get out and you try. As long as you continue to try, you have an opportunity," she said. "That's why I'm here."

On Saturday, she will play biggest rival, Serena, in their ninth meeting in a Grand Slam final (Serena leads 6-2).

"When I'm playing on the court with her, I think I'm playing, like, the best competitor in the game," Williams said. "I don't think I'm chump change either. I can compete against any odds. No matter what, I get out there and I compete."