WIMBLEDON

July 1, 2004

Serena Williams

THE MODERATOR: Serena Williams.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think this is one of the best matches that we've had. I think it's definitely one of the best matches that we've played each other, so it was definitely top quality.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I guess maybe in John McEnroe's books, maybe that kind of does apply to me. I think it is, you know. It's tough to come back after injury, surgery, nonetheless. It's just always about keeping a positive attitude.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I was really excited. I was thinking, "Okay, I lost the first set." I really shouldn't have lost that. At least I didn't think I should have lost the first set. I thought, "I could be on my way home if I don't change fast." But I just kept fighting. That's all I really had, was fight.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't remember that. I don't remember that at all. But, you know, like I said, I kept fighting. I don't give up. I mean, things might not -- things can't always go your way, in general, not just on the court, but just in life. You can't just stop.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, this tournament hopefully will be the most special moment so far in my career, yeah. Not quite. One more. But, yeah, because it's a been a tough -- you know, it hasn't been an easy road back. I really was struggling a lot. This is my second Grand Slam. To be in the finals, seems like you guys always expect me to win, expect me to be in the final. But, you know, it's not so easy all the time as it looks.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. You know, I didn't have a game today. I just really had heart and that's all I had, because I was making lots of errors. I don't remember getting too many first serves in at all. I don't remember hitting nine aces at all. So really it was just the fact that I was just there and I kept just fighting with what I had. I had a good volley. That's pretty much all I had.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It's the same. I think we're the same age. She was playing really good tennis. So I don't know. Except it's at Wimbledon, mine was the US Open.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think she's really focused out there. She doesn't seem to get too distracted, so that's always good.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I mean, I just had a bad day today. But it's always good to pull it through against a top player in the semifinals of Wimbledon on a bad day, so that's always a plus. You know, I was playing really well throughout the whole tournament. Today, I don't know, I wasn't feeling my shots and I wasn't -- I wasn't really doing much. But I was really fighting.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, it wasn't hard for me at all, at all. I was really focused and relaxed.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I will prepare in a way that I will not tell you (smiling).

SERENA WILLIAMS: Because, the lion is the king of the forest, but the tiger is the king of the jungle.

SERENA WILLIAMS: (Laughter).

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think Mauresmo was really mentally strong. I think she played a really good game. I honestly think it's the best she's ever played. I think we both were down to the nitty-gritty. I mean, two and a half hours later, we were still fighting. And I don't think she broke mentally, I don't think I broke mentally. Like Pete Sampras always said, "In order to win a Grand Slam, you have to have a little luck." I don't know if I got lucky, but I was really focused and determined more than anything.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No surprises. I told you they wouldn't let me wear my other outfit here at the All England Club.

SERENA WILLIAMS: (Smiling).

SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, she's a tough player. She's solid on all sides. She hits good angles. That's always a plus. She's real focused. I like that about her.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think we both pump our fist a lot. So that's really similar.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I wasn't really focused on her backhand. Maybe, I don't know, I can't answer that.

SERENA WILLIAMS: You have to figure it out (laughter) .

SERENA WILLIAMS: You have to figure it out (laughter).

SERENA WILLIAMS: Honestly, it's just what I said. It's not for me to figure it out. I've already figured it out.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't think so. I mean, when I was young going into it, if anything, I was really determined to really fight and win when I played my first Grand Slam final. I think you run so much on adrenaline, it's like experience doesn't have -- I don't think it has so much to do with it. Like maybe if it was 7-All in the third set, maybe a little more experience would kick in. I think it all kind of boils down to talent. I think she's been playing a lot of tournaments, more than me, so I think she's had enough experience.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, you know, it's just -- really just trying to stay up and just focus on my tennis right now.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, we talk all the time. I mean, we don't really talk too much about tennis. She just fills me in with everything that's happening, you know, in America. So that's about it.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I just had a de'ja vu. That's weird. Why am I not playing doubles here? Because (laughter)... I didn't want to. And because the lion is the king of the jungle, but the tiger is the king of the forest.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I'd still be out there now if it was the best-of-five, so... I'm all for equal play, less matches (laughter).

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I'm just real excited. You know, I'm not overly excited because I really want to take this and I really kind of focused on, you know, I get a day off tomorrow, I'm focused on my final round. You know, I think that kind of had a little thing to do with it, too. I was in the semifinals. I was like I really want to be in the final again. This is my -- I love playing on Centre Court, and so that kind of had a little factor into me really fighting, as well.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, you guys always get it wrong, but...

I like to make the media my friends.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I had it mixed up the first time. The lion is the king of the jungle, but the tiger is the king of the forest.

SERENA WILLIAMS: (Laughter).

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, you know, I thought about that. For the first time, since my first Grand Slam title, I believe, it's going to be different because I'm usually playing my sister. But in a way I don't, because I love to see Venus get to the final or myself get to the final. I always want to see the best for her and she always wants to see the best for me. You know, I'm never going to part with that, ever. It doesn't matter. I always like to see her do the best.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I take the Fifth on the first part of the question. But when I went back to get the new racquet, because it somehow cracked, I think I was hitting the balls too hard maybe, I don't think it helped me refocus. I just went over and got a new racquet.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Hey, the crowds always root for the underdog, at least with when I'm playing. I'm always not the underdog. You know, I'm kind of used to it now. I actually kind of feel weird when people root for me too much.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I dreamt that Venus lost at Wimbledon, and somebody asked me why didn't we play doubles. Then I was playing this young girl in the final. Isn't that weird? I always have de'ja vus.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, it's really weird.