Serena Williams

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US Open Tennis 2007

Serena Williams of USA during her win over Angelique Kerber of Germany at Flushing Meadow New York Photo: Tommy Hindley / Professional Sport

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USO 2007

S. WILLIAMS/A. Kerber

6-3, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Each year at the US Open you have an outfit that matches your mood. What does your outfit say about your mood, how you feel about your tennis right now?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, my outfit was dark, and I definitely played a dark match today. My outfit was dark, but I thought it was kind of young, hip and fun. I felt definitely very young, hip and fun.

Q. What does it say about where you're at in your tennis game?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think the outfit is more stylish, like more it mod, which is kind of like '50s and '60s. I think '60s is more mod than anything. But I think that style is something that's iconic and, like, it never it's always in style.

Q. First match since Wimbledon. Decent period for you. What did you think?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I didn't play well at all, at all, yeah. It was a crazy match out there.

Q. But even for you, eight time Grand Slam champion, you have that much time off, you have to work out the kinks, don't you think?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I guess. I don't know. If I'd have done the things that I did in practice, it would have been a better match. I just think I was too uptight about keeping my record for first rounds (laughter).

Q. Did you think about playing a tournament before this one?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I did. I was gonna play in New Haven. I wanted to play so bad, but I just couldn't. I didn't think it was the right time, so I just had to go with this one.

Q. How long have you been hitting two handed backhands now?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, a week, two weeks.

Q. Did it come back quickly?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. It's my best shot. It came back. I have a great slice now. I have a great forehand. You couldn't tell tonight, but...

Q. What did she do that gave you so many problems on the court?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, it was me. I think she definitely played a tough game, but I just think I made a lot of errors. I didn't feel I moved my feet well. I felt like I was just flat footed. I felt like I was just heavy. I just didn't I don't know.

Q. Were you feeling the pressure of you having to win on this night after Venus had won?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I just felt like I don't know. I didn't feel pressure to win. I just don't want to lose in the first round. I'll be better the next match.

Q. When did you realize the thumb was as bad as it got?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think about two weeks after Wimbledon 'cause I just thought it would get better within a week. I thought, okay, it will be better next week. Two weeks later, I was like, okay, maybe I should go on vacation. So, yeah, I really thought I was going to play Fed Cup. I was so amped. I was so ready to play the summer. It just didn't happen.

Q. Was it a little bit scary when it wasn't getting better week after week?

SERENA WILLIAMS: It was a little bit frustrating because I felt like I was playing well and I felt like I didn't deserve it. You know, I was very frustrated actually. I just had to stay fit. That's the only thing I could do.

Q. It was a special night with the tribute to Althea Gibson. What do you think yourself and Venus' contributions have been for African Americans and for the game of tennis?

SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, I never think about it. I know every time I step out on the court I play for me and I play for all the other little African American kids out there who have a dream and who might not have the means, like myself and my sisters didn't growing up.

I feel like I play for them, too, and let them know if they fight hard and if they work hard, more than anything, your dreams can come true, whether you want to be a tennis player or a singer. You just have to work hard at it. I believe if they have a positive role model, they can do it.

Q. If you look at the pro ranks, there doesn't seem to be that many African American players coming up behind you just yet. The same can be said for the PGA TOUR with Tiger Woods' impact. Why do you think that is?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I can't answer that. I really can't answer that.

Q. Do you feel a little bit like you've come into this Slam maybe not as prepared as you want to be, but you've progressed well and won?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I played like that in Australia. I have that on my back. I'll be fine. If I do what I do in practice I'll be fine. If I play like I did today, I'm going to be in trouble (laughter).

Q. Roger Federer said earlier tonight when someone asked him about Althea Gibson, he said it was before his time, he didn't know who we were talking about. Does that make tonight more important to educate some more of the players on tour as to just who she was?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think so. I can't imagine he didn't know who Althea Gibson was.

Q. That's what he said.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Which I think is the point. I think a lot of people don't know who she is, and they always say Arthur Ashe, Arthur Ashe. People forget that Althea Gibson was actually years, decades before Arthur Ashe. I think it's important to have nights like this so you can teach young people that don't know who they are.

Q. How did you feel conditioning wise?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Fine, yeah.

Q. How does your faith come into the equation? Many people believe you rely on more than talent.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, yeah, I definitely rely on talent. But I think I pray, but I don't expect God to give me the Holy Spirit and let me win the match. I also believe that you have to work hard. He doesn't help anyone that's just sitting down. I always just pray for strength if I'm facing, you know, some obstacles. Other than that, yeah, that's it. I hope that He can help me through that.

Q. What do you think about Venus hitting 129 tonight?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I hit 126 (smiling).

Q. You were talking earlier about role models. When you were a kid growing up thinking about tennis, was Zina a role model, or was it like she was a role model but you were looking at all the players?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Absolutely. I remember when I first met Zina, I was so excited. I got to hit with her. Honestly, it made my day. I remember when she was in the finals at Wimbledon, we were practicing.

This guy came screaming on the court, Zina's in the finals. She beat her. She beat her. We were so happy. It was a dream come true for us. It was the most amazing moment when I first met her. I thought I could beat her. She hit so hard. I was so young and weak, I could barely get the ball back. I'll never forget how she hit with me and Venus. It was a great experience. She was really her and Lori McNeil, I really looked up to them.

Q. When she got to that Wimbledon final, did it change what you thought you could do?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Absolutely did. I felt like if she could do it, then I wanted to be there one day. My dream was always winning the US Open. I felt like I wanted to do the same thing at the Open.

It was unbelievable for her to get there. Everyone was so happy. I wanted to stop practicing to celebrate, but we kept hitting.

Q. Venus couldn't quite remember, sometimes your memory is better, but do you remember the first time you talked to Althea? Did she give you any special words?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I remember I talked to her after I won here in '99. I just remember her saying something to the gist of like she finally was able to see a black person win a Grand Slam. I remember her saying that. She didn't say that verbatim, but that was basically what she said. I was so happy at the time. I was so excited to talk to her. Yeah, it was a great moment.

Q. You mentioned your natural ability. I remember watching you in Compton working, working and working, do you think you've become a natural or was it just hard work?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I was terrible. I couldn't hit hard. I hit lobs and slice. I'm amazed that I've come this far. I was terrible. Only thing I could do was run fast. I had like a terrible serve. Oh, my God. I had the worst forehand. When I look back at old films my dad had, I'm like, I would have quit on her. It pays not to give up because somewhere along the line I changed. I was not the "it" girl at the time.

Q. It didn't come naturally?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I don't think so. Everything takes hard work.

Q. How did you feel about the crowd tonight?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I felt excited. I thought they were really having fun. I thought it was a lot of people out there. I thought I don't know. I thought they wanted to see a longer match when I got down or when the girl got even.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports

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S.Williams/M.E.Camerin

7/5, 6/2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How do you feel you played tonight?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I played better than my first round. I'm glad I'm not training too soon. So, yeah.

Q. How did you feel physically?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Physically I'm fine. I feel like I'm really good. Not tired or anything. I'm really fit.

Q. Was there a point that you were a bit uncertain in this match because it was a little close?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I felt like I had opportunities, and I didn't take them. You know, should have been a different score line.

But that was only because I missed the wrong shots at the wrong time.

Q. Are there things you're going to do differently preparing to go into the next round?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, just want to play a little better each round, as each match goes on.

Q. How about the support from the New York crowd?

SERENA WILLIAMS: It's been great. The support is, you know, amazing. Seems like I always forget how loud they are, how fun the crowd is. It's just a different feeling and I really love it.

Q. About the experience playing under the lights in New York City.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I love playing under the lights. It's great. Sometimes it gets a little confusing with the high lobs, but other than that, it's really good.

Q. Earlier today Venus said if things had gone differently, if she could have gone into another sport, she might have gone into track. Is this any other sport that you could have envisioned yourself playing?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I liked track, but I didn't like the long distance runs. I don't know how dedicated I would have been like training and stuff.

I probably would have been a good sprinter. Other than that, no, I think I would have tried to go be an actress or something.

Q. Who is faster?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Hmm (smiling). I don't know. I'm really fast, especially in a sprint, I'm really, really fast.

Q. How far do you think you are away from playing your best tennis?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I haven't played my best tennis at all in the first two rounds. I'm glad to have gotten through them, but I don't feel like I've been playing great.

I don't know how far I am, but I'm better than I was in the first round, and hopefully each round will be a little bit better, a little bit better.

Q. What would you like to see, what are the specific things you'd like to see pick up?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, my return of serve is usually unbelievable. I've been returning a lot. So I'm just waiting on that to come back. I would like to see that go a little better. Just a little bit of everything.

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S. WILLIAMS/V.Zvonareva

6/4 7/6

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. If the plan here after a long layoff after Wimbledon is to use this first week to find your groove, roll into the second week, do you think you're right on schedule?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm getting better, you know. I just I'm better than I was in my first round, for sure. So that's all that matters.

Q. Were you frustrated out there?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Not as frustrated as I have been in my other two rounds. Not as much.

Q. So you feel like your game's improving? You're happier now than you were a couple weeks ago?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know if I'm happier. I'm happy I was able to come through. I don't think I played well at But I'm happy I was able to come through.

Q. If you're not playing your best right now, you've been through this process before where you had to come back from an injury, so you know what you have to do in the first week?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, you just got to fight, hope to win. And that's what I did. You know, this girl was a top 10 player before. Wasn't she? I knew it was going to be a tough match, not easy.

Q. Just how mad were you?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Mad? I mean, I was just I don't know. I was mad at different points and different shots.

For the most part I tried to stay I try not to go as crazy as I normally do.

Q. During your match today it felt that somewhere in the middle of the second set, Vera was about to do something fantastic and take lead in the game. Did you feel that as well?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I felt she definitely picked up the level of her game. I definitely felt like they started playing better and doing different things.

Q. What is your opinion about your next opponent, Bartoli?

SERENA WILLIAMS:I played her before. I saw her play at Wimbledon. It's going to be a good match. She's doing really well. I'll have to be ready.

Q. The umpire at one point told you to put your book away, what was that about? What was the explanation to you?

SERENA WILLIAMS: He told me I couldn't use my notes. I was like, well, it's not like I'm Harry Potter, and my dad can magically give me notes to read; it's something that I write myself. Just little things. What if I were to take a paper on the court and write something, what's the difference?

So I'm not one for coaching never have been. I just couldn't understand. I've been doing it for years. It's not like something all of a sudden. It's something that I just do.

Q. Is this the first time you've been told to put it away?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, and then he said it was fine. I asked him if that was something they do on the ATP Tour, because I don't play on that tour, nor do I belong over there.

He said, yeah. I was like, no one has ever told me. I've been doing this for my first two matches as well.

Q. Are you going to find out if it's really a rule or something he just made up?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I'm over it. I moved on.

Q. What do you feel like you need to improve on in the next round? What part of your game right now are you not happy with?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I have to just make sure I keep moving up, keep moving forward I think is what I need to do most.

Q. Did you feel a little bit sluggish today?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I didn't feel that sluggish. Did I look sluggish?

Q. What's the best and the worst part of playing at home?

SERENA WILLIAMS: The best part is, there's nothing like playing at home. I can't think of the worst part. There is no worst part.

Q. Do you play well in practice?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't think I've been practicing the greatest, so...

Hopefully I'm waiting for it to come together.

Q. The book, are these spiritual things you say to yourself or technical things you write down to remind yourself to do?

SERENA WILLIAMS: They're more technical. Maybe I'll publish it (smiling).

Q. They had it in the British papers, the zoom lens?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, that wasn't fair.

Q. Were you surprised to see that?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. I was like, "errrr." That's the British way. They're very up close and personal. You got to be ready for that when you go over there. I learned after that. I was like, okay, I'm going to hold it up or put my towel over it.

Q. Are you a little down? Are you a little disappointed with your form?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I was upset after the match. I didn't feel that I played the greatest at all. I actually felt like I didn't play well at all.

But that's said and done. I'm moving on.

Q. Does it feel somehow different to play Russian players?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, because there's so many of them. You play about six a week.

Q. When did you start bringing the notebook with you on the court?

SERENA WILLIAMS: The summer of 1973. It was a long time ago.

Q. Does Venus also bring a book?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No. That's something she's never done. It's something I just I used to take I didn't take a book, I just took like a little paper, just something I wrote something on. I kept losing them, and then I was like, maybe, okay, maybe I'll just keep a book.

Q. How many weeks where you able to practice before you got to New York?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I was training the whole time. Since I left Wimbledon I kept training. I actually was practicing a lot. There were some shots that were limited.

Q. Thumb, couldn't come over the backhand?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Right. I actually have a great slice. I just don't use it that much.

Q. Have you watched much of Venus playing?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I was watching her a little bit when I was cooling down upstairs. She's playing really good. She's encouraging me to do better. She's playing unbelievable.

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Great stuff, coluchka! Thanks

Serena with Grinch (lol)

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candids

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with Venus

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candids

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