HOME DEPOT CHAMPIONSHIPS

November 11, 2002

Serena Williams

Q. Serena, was it a question of having a long match last night? You looked a little tired.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know if it was because of a long match or not. Maybe, maybe not. I don't know. Kim played really well tonight.

SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, like I said, I don't want to take any credit away from Kim. She earned the win. She played pretty good. Throughout the whole tournament, I don't think she lost a set.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Not at all. She's a very fast player, as well as Capriati and myself and Venus. I think we're all very, very, very quick. Not at all.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Definitely not.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I mean, it's just maybe one forehand too many-type situation, two weeks ago, one forehand too many. At this point, like I said, I was happy to make it this far, really.

SERENA WILLIAMS: For me, it's always good to have a good year. I mean, obviously, I had a decent year, but you know, I like that I didn't win today, because I'm so motivated right now to win the Australian Open, and also because after that, it was like last year when I didn't play the Australian, I got super-motivated. I told myself I was going to win the French, Wimbledon, US Open. Sometimes for me, I need to take a step back and say, keep going ahead and ahead.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I mean, just my game, in general. This whole week, I don't think I played very well at all. At all. You can look at my past, and I've definitely played better. I mean, from the first match to today, I was kind of lucky to get this far.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I don't know. I was trying to start out ahead. I wanted to get off to a quick start.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it. I enjoy it.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Sure there is. You earn your money quicker and easier. Come on.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Did I?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. To be honest, right now, I feel like I'm 98 years old. Everything right now is just broke, and I'm ready to go home. Really I am, so it's just, I'm an old lady in a young woman's body.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I mean, I think just tonight maybe I didn't -- I worked out before this event. It's just that -- I don't know. I had some time off personally between my last tournament and this tournament. I had a little time off. I think Kim played a few tournaments. I don't think that really had a lot to do with it. Like I said, it was one forehand too many two weeks ago.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't want to say that it was. I think Kim played well today. She deserved the win and got the win. I wouldn't necessarily say that just because Jennifer pushed me. The first time I won the open, I played four 3-setters in a row. I kept going and going and going. It's just that my body feels pretty old right now.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Unfortunately, it won't be too long. I have to play in late December. I have to go to Australia.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, not at all. I'm looking forward to going there.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Definitely not. I know that myself. I'm not going to kid myself and say I worked super, super hard, but imagine if I did.

SERENA WILLIAMS: She's always done really well, had a lot of talent. We've always had some pretty good matches. She, obviously, has a very good future. We will see what next year will bring. I think she'll do very well.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, my goal is just not to lose. Just pick very few tournaments and win all the ones I play.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Probably not. I'll probably try to play a little more to add a few points here and there.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, you know, when I get down, I tend to come to the net, which is good. I probably should come to the net when I'm ahead. I probably want to do that a little more.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I didn't think I was going to lose tonight, but I guess I did. I did kind of feel my time winding down in my legs and my arm and my back. You know, I felt time running out, but other than that, I never give up until I shake hands and I realize it's over.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't feel that great.

SERENA WILLIAMS: The four, could be. When I'm playing bad, I'm causing trouble, so I think if I'm playing decent, I'll be doing a lot better.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, you know, I wish I could have done a little better in this tournament, but hey, I think I had a decent year. I won three Slams. I guess that's all right. My most important Slam was the Wimbledon and US Open.

SERENA WILLIAMS: My goal last year was to -- I've won the US Open. I always wanted to win Wimbledon and load up the trophy, all the history behind it, and becoming No. 1, I didn't even know I was going to be No. 1. You know, I guess being No. 1, being the best, that's always a plus, knowing that you're -- I thought about it. I'm the best in tennis in the world, at least on the women's side.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. I'm going on some auditions, so I'm really excited. I'm going to try to slim up.

SERENA WILLIAMS: A couple different movie roles I'm going out for. I'm really, really, really excited.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm really slim and svelte. Off-season I don't tend to eat too much. I lose a lot of weight. Now I will eat, so I'm really excited.