US OPEN

September 4, 2004

Serena Williams

THE MODERATOR: First question for Serena, please.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No. I just had a problem previously. No, I've just been training on it and trying to get it better, trying to just strengthen it. I -- yeah, I was just having problems at the end because I was moving a lot and stopping a lot, yeah. It always gives me a little trouble after a certain time period.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Nothing happened out there to make it worse at all.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, because my previous three matches, I had maybe three backhands. This match, I obviously hit more backhands. It's just a change. Everyone else hitting more to my forehand. Venus was hitting more to the backhand. It was weird. But, yeah, definitely made a lot of errors.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't remember the one in Miami that much. Previous matches, I don't know. I guess I've won several, so obviously I played better. I don't know.

SERENA WILLIAMS: So the question is?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think she should have a definitely high level of confidence. Hopefully next time we meet, it will be in the finals.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It does, if it's later on. Early on, it's kind of very, very weird and awkward, bizarre, to say the least.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I definitely had my chances. I had a set point. I had a lot of different opportunities, so I definitely think that I had some chances that I could have cap- -- capitalized on, but I didn't.

SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, I don't think I played my best today at all. I don't think Venus did either. I told her, we were talking in the locker room, just how horrible we played. I said, "You played terrible." She was like, "I know." I said, "I played much better against Schiavone." She said, "Yeah, you did." It was definitely a match that I think I could have played better, and she could have played better, and it would have been, you know... Only thing I did halfway decent was serve well, which I was surprised. Well, I wasn't surprised because I've been really working on that part of my game.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I disagree a hundred percent with that. We've had some incredibly tough matches. Some of my toughest matches have been against her. Whenever I think of playing her, I think of the Australian Open in '03. I barely was able to win that. I think of Wimbledon, both times we -- all three times we played actually at Wimbledon. Here a couple times. I think the level of play out there - because we play so hard, we hit so many winners, we go for a lot - it's like a men's game more or less when we play against each other.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I hadn't planned on taking the rest of the year off.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, I guess I'm due -- I can't believe I'm out of the tournament. It's weird (laughter). I guess I'm playing Beijing.

SERENA WILLIAMS: If it's, like I said before, in a later round, it's obviously easier. I've never played her this early, so it's a little tough. It's very interesting.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I just felt like I was ready. More than anything, I just wanted to go ahead and get the match over with and have everyone stop talking, you know, just go ahead and go out there and play.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm feeling a lot better. Honestly, I don't think there's anyone besides Venus that could have beaten me at this championships. I'm really feeling my shots. Honestly, I'm playing better than I had in Australia. I know it's a big statement to say, but I'm glad that I actually feel that way again because I didn't feel that way earlier in the year. Even in Australia, I didn't feel that way. I think confidence with me is the main key. And I'm excited that I actually have that confidence again.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think it's important for everyone to feel that they're the best. Whether I'm Venus or Serena, whoever I am, I think it's important for us to feel the best because if I don't, then how would I feel going out to play someone? I figure, "Okay, well, I'm not better than this person." That's kind of weird. Of course, I think that's the right attitude to have.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I've had a bizarre year. Had a lot of downs. But I'm alive, I'm well, I'm happy. I stumbled and I got up. I didn't think I could get up at one point, and I did. That's like a huge step for me, and I look forward to, you know, the Australian Open.

SERENA WILLIAMS: At the French Open, yeah.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I just -- my physio, Kerrie, was really positive. I have a good friend. I won't mention his name if he's not in here, he's not in here, Jackie Long. He was like a really good friend of mine. My other friend Deandrea (phonetic). Yeah, I was really down and out. Venus, as well. Of course, Venus.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It's definitely a key factor. And prayer. I think God was my biggest ally.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think Kim's playing amazing. She's really doing great. She gets every ball back. But, you know, they'll both start at 0-0 and will both have great chances to win.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I'm going to definitely stick around because I'm going to be working out here still. I'm going to use the facilities to the best of my ability. I'll be utilizing everything. So, yeah, I'll be here.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think Sania is a very strong player. I think she hits the ball very, very hard. She's obviously the best thing to come out of India. She's a nice girl.