WIMBLEDON

June 30, 2004

Serena Williams

THE MODERATOR: Serena Williams for you.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I mean, I think I played pretty well today, yeah, but... Since last year's Wimbledon, probably for sure, yeah, no doubt.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, it just geared me up to know that I'm going to have to come out strong, especially in the first set, just to come out really fighting for the first few points.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, when you play Jennifer, you've got to come out really strong. I mean, since I've been playing her, I've been trying to come out strong, and I always seem to come out slow. So that's what I just tried to do, was really come out strong and smokin'.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I was most impressed with I was able to retrieve a lot of balls that she hit really deep. You know, I was able to get them back. Yeah, just stay mentally focused, you know, out there. I was really wanting to stay focused because I know she's the type of player that really she never gives up and she'll want to try to come back. That's what I wanted to make sure I did.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It's good. It's like I know when I have to play Jennifer, I know I have to be on your toes and I have to really come out really fighting and ready or else I'm going to go home early, and I don't want that to happen.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, I don't know. I don't really read what you guys write about the matches and stuff. I just really try to focus mostly on me, what I'm going to do, how I'm going to perform when I'm out there, because that's most important. So I try not to get overly involved with what everyone's saying, what everyone's writing about, the great rivalry. You know, I think it is a good rivalry, for sure. I think it's something that we need in tennis, in general. But I think we, myself and Jennifer, have a really good rivalry. But that's not what I'm focused on. I'm focused on, you know, trying to play.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, because, you know, there definitely is a lot of coverage out there. It's just that I don't -- I'm pretty much ignorant to it. I'm not paying attention to it at all.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I try not to doubt myself when I'm on the court at all.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Hmm, 76% -- 64% first serves. I don't know. It's hard to say.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I definitely think so. You know, it's been a really hard 12 months for me. And coming back to Wimbledon, you know, I'm -- I think, regardless, I just really, really am feeling really good for the first time since I've been back. And so that's what I'm most excited about. I'm bending for balls, and I'm not having any pain, I'm not even worried about feeling pain. I'm running without having any doubt in my mind. So that's been a real big plus for me - not only mentally, but physically as well.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I haven't read one article since I've been here about myself. I mean, the only articles I read are men's tennis because I don't want to read anything about women's, it might get me a little distracted. You know, just basically of Tim Henman. You know, that's about it. Honestly, I do not, because I did that a long time ago, way back like '99, '98, and it kind of got me out of focus. And so I said I'd never do that again. I never do it again.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, they asked me how I felt about winning, having an opportunity to win three in a row. You know, it's been something on my mind since the beginning of the tournament. But I think regardless, I'm really happy with my performance here because, you know, it's been a tough 12 months for me. And it's like I'm finally feeling much better. But my focus right now is just my next match, not the final or anything else.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Naturally I think everyone thinks it will be a much quicker process.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Hmm... I didn't struggle too much with my confidence, at least I don't think I did. Because, I mean, I came back and had a really good win in Miami. It couldn't have been any better for me confidence-wise. So that was pretty fine. Physically, you know, I never -- don't think I really struggled physically too much to get back in shape either.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It's okay. I mean, I think they did a really good job with the schedule by putting us first on each of the days, and then today was 12:00. It was earliest. I used to play at 1:00. It was perfect. I probably play again tomorrow, and that's fine with me. So I think I'm okay with the schedule. I had -- I look at it this way: I've had a lot of days off, so...

SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm trying to think the last time I served so well. I don't know. I mean, hopefully I will be. I mean, I can answer that at the end of the tournament.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, it's going to be good. I like playing Amelie a lot. And she plays well on the grass. She does well here. So I'm looking forward to playing her again.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. You know, some people you just like their game. I like her game.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Now, at the French I just -- I made a ton of errors, and I couldn't keep the ball in play. My game just broke down. I just wasn't the same player. So it was just a totally different time. You know, I'm just feeling better, in general.

SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, I can't. I can't really say, no.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, she's in Florida. She's in Florida.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think so. Even the one or two times that I came to the net today, it was pretty good. You know, I was really solid at the net, as well. So I think I felt that way against - what was it - my third-round match when I played Serna. I was feeling that it was finally coming together, just physically, just the whole game.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I didn't feel that too much. I think in the last game she gave a really good effort, especially on the first point, you know. It's just that I was really fighting as well out there. Like I said, I was really focused on myself.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I think everyone at some point in their career is beatable. It's just a matter of staying humble. I would like to believe that. But, like I said, you know, I have two more matches - hopefully I have two more matches to play.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm a little tired, you know. I had a lot of press to do today, so. Y'all are killing me (smiling).

SERENA WILLIAMS: I hope so. I mean, Pete was my role model. I loved him, especially on the grass, he was amazing. I mean, I hope that I can feel that, especially coming to Wimbledon, this is always a place that I'll be able to just dominate here. I mean, it's one of the best tournaments to dominate at, for sure. You know, in a way I kind of feel that way because I do have a good game on grass, whether I want to admit it or not. I do, so yeah (smiling).