WIMBLEDON

July 3, 2003

Serena Williams

MODERATOR: Good afternoon, Serena Williams for you.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I mean, I'm in the finals of Wimbledon, so that's always exciting.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I mean, people do that every day (smiling).

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I just -- the only feeling I had on the court was to look at the ball and stay low and do all the right techniques. That was basically mostly what I felt out there.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It was normal, with any other player. I have no problems with any player on the WTA Tour.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think I just played a little better. I knew what I was going to have to do was play better, because Justine's playing really well. Mostly, I served -- I still only had 66 percent, but it's more than what I had at the French Open. I think more than anything, I served better. And I think going into any match, any surface, any tournament, I have to serve pretty well.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Let's look at the stats.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I played well. She also played well, so it was a good match.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I think if anything, it put me on my toes a bit more, to realize that I have to keep fighting because Justine wasn't just gonna give it to me. So if anything, that definitely kept me going, kept me up.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It would have...?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Uh-hmm...

SERENA WILLIAMS: Okay. I understand now. No, I -- everybody has their own opinion. I don't think she thinks that about me. If she does, she's entitled. I think she's a good player; I think she's a nice girl. I have no hard feelings with anyone.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm just really excited to be in the finals again of a Grand Slam. I just want to fight and do the best that I can. It's, you know, I've been able to realize at the French that you can't always make it to the final. So now that I'm back, it's definitely exciting. It's just another step, another day to keep fighting.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm... I think it has. Of course, it definitely has. I went home and worked a little harder than normal. I was definitely really focused and, you know, I realize there's players out there that I have to be on my toes and I can't sit down and watch the "Golden Girls" all day. I have to watch some film instead sometimes. I mean, it's definitely tough, but at least once I tried to do that. So it definitely got me going a little more, and I think in the long run it is better, for sure.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I think it's more the press want to start a rivalry between people. I mean, it used to be us and Hingis, the Williams sisters and Hingis. I think you guys just make a mountain out of a molehill. In this case, there's not even a molehill here. Like I said, I'm just here to play tennis and I have to be in this environment for many, many years. In order to be in this environment, you have to be happy with yourself and be able to communicate with other players that are your colleagues, so to say. So it's you guys; it's not us (smiling).

SERENA WILLIAMS: I thought the ball was out, but like I always say, one point's not going to change the match. You know, I never argue a ball. I did once, a long time ago in the beginning of my career. I went nuts and I never argued a ball since. So I just don't do it.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't quite remember. It might have been indoors a long time ago, but I don't remember.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think in this tournament Venus has been playing the best. I've had -- watched her match and I've had to raise my level of play to be able to, I think, compete with her. As far as separate and get a different coach, I wouldn't change anything that's been working. Old saying, if it's not broke, you shouldn't really fix it. I don't think there's any problems.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think I won, what, four, five in a row? At some point, you know, Martina Navratilova beat Chris Evert many, many times. Actually, Chris beat Martina many times in a row, but then it changed. It's not -- it's just her getting used to my game. Like I said, if she wins today, I'd -- I'm gonna have a very tough match - definitely. But... I don't think there's any changing that needs to be made.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, it's definitely great to see. It motivates me. When I see her playing so well, I want to do better. I want to -- I realize that I really want to stay on top. So when she's doing all the things that she should do, I just really start practicing harder myself so it definitely motivates me.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, we... I'm happy, too. We tried and we fought. We were both so tired. I was like -- I looked at Venus, I was like, "I'm really tired," in the first set. I don't know how we even lasted three sets out there. I was a little sore, and mentally, I played a really tough three-setter, mentally more than anything. I was running a lot in that match, Venus as well. And we were just... A little beaten. She said, "I'm kind of glad we lost." I was like, "Yeah, me too." It was for the best. Some things happen for a reason, and that was definitely a good reason.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think Jennifer gave me a good match to prepare for Justine because Jennifer got a lot of balls back. I'm actually really happy that I had a chance to play her. I think that kind of prepared me for Justine.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't remember the point exactly, how it went. I know it's always exciting to come out ahead, to come out ahead of long points and play very well, just move the ball around and then still come out ahead - even though she's getting a lot of balls back or I might be getting a lot of balls back. It's always very satisfying to come out ahead.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, not at all. I'm happy I was even at the net, so that was -- that was definitely a start, that I was able to net some volleys. So that was a start.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, either player I'm gonna play I'm going to have to definitely up my game. This is gonna be the final. You always -- you can never stay on the same level; you always, I think, have to raise the level of your game.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I would like to get my serves to 80 -- okay, 75 percent, at least (laughter). I'm at 66. Yeah, I will look at the stats. I think there's a lot of stuff that I could up, for sure.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I think she played a tough match. I think she got a lot of balls back and had a good strategy. I don't know if she had a lot of respect. She's just playing her game and we both were trying to win the match.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think right now, the women's game is super-exciting and I think we're on a different level from everyone else. I think we shouldn't change anything right now in the women's game.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well... Who knows? (Laughter)