OAKLAND - At this point, nothing seems to faze 14-year-old Venus Williams.
Monday night, she held her emotions and her game together in the face of enormous media scrutiny that accompanied her successful pro tennis debut - a 6-3, 6-4 victory against 59th-ranked Shaun Stafford.
Afterward, she smiled sweetly and wasn't the slightest bit unnerved by the glaring lights and bouquet of microphones at a post-match news conference attended by reporters from all over the world.
And she continues to simply shrug off pointed questions about whether she is turning pro too early.
Tonight, though, comes a more tangible and formidable hurdle - a second-round match in the Bank of the West Classic against Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, No. 2 in the world and reigning champion of the U.S. and French opens.
"If she plays like she did the last two games, I think she'll have a good match," said Stafford, 25, of Gainesville, Fla. "She didn't tighten up at all. She really went for it."
Williams, 6-1 and slim, rangy and powerful, overwhelmed Stafford in the final two games with rockets from the baseline and a strong serve.
She broke Stafford's serve for a 5-4 lead, after which she marched triumphantly to her changeover seat, which she didn't use, then marched back onto the court and quickly served out the match at love.
After the last point, she broke into her first big smile of the night and, at the net, jumped up and down, like a little girl . . . a girl who provided an answer about whether she'd be intimidated.
"I've watched a lot of matches of Monica Seles and, in tough situations, she just attacked," said Williams, who hadn't played in a tournament since moving from Compton, Calif., three years ago to train with coach Rick Macci in Delray Beach, Fla. "I just thought in those last two games that it was either now or never."
Macci was pleased, though he wanted Williams to go to the net more often. Her father, Richard, was pleased, though he halfheartedly rooted for Stafford because he is concerned about early success.
And Venus was pleased.
"I wasn't sure what to expect, but this is more fun than I thought it would be," she said. The best day of her life? "No, but it's close."
What was the best day of her life? "I don't know," she said after a long pause. "But I'll think about that and try to give you an answer later."
