WIMBLEDON

July 5, 2002

Serena Williams

Venus Williams

MODERATOR: First question, please.

VENUS WILLIAMS: It was a real nice match for us. Fortunately, it ended before the rain.

SERENA WILLIAMS: We were really lucky to get finished out there today.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No.

VENUS WILLIAMS: We like to think once we've broken serve, we've won the set.

SERENA WILLIAMS: That's how we like to think when we're out there.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, we're not going to play the semifinal. That would be too much to play two matches before the final of a Grand Slam. So we just try to play one, get that one hopefully under our belts, go to the next one.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No.

VENUS WILLIAMS: No.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Sure.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Of course.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, this is a Grand Slam.

SERENA WILLIAMS: This is Wimbledon.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes (laughter).

SERENA WILLIAMS: We're not really here to talk about John McEnroe or the men's game.

VENUS WILLIAMS: We reckon that we're not going to play men's tennis.

SERENA WILLIAMS: We're not here to talk about that.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I think it's normal to be nervous before a Grand Slam final. But we've learned a long time ago not to let it hold us back - learned the hard way.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I really don't experience butterflies. Only time I maybe get nervous is maybe in the first round. Other than that, I never get nervous. I just go out there and play.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I get nervous if I know I'm not playing well.

VENUS WILLIAMS: As far as?

VENUS WILLIAMS: About what?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Not really.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Today is the day before the Wimbledon final.

SERENA WILLIAMS: How do you know that would be my choice?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Never assume. You know what they say about assumers.

VENUS WILLIAMS: You remember that movie?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. She's playing great now. I don't know. Her speed is unbelievable. When you have speed, then you can just about beat anybody. Between the speed, maybe her serve, yeah. She has a devastating backhand. I couldn't pick one.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Me?

VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I don't know. I think she has a very accurate serve normally.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Very rare.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Back in 1986, last time?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Was that a Wednesday? No, November.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Wednesday (laughter).

SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, first of all, obviously, if I was playing a Jennifer Capriati or Martina Hingis, I wouldn't normally be discussing my tactics with my opponent. Obviously, that's what we're going to do. Second of all, you know, we should be answering doubles questions. We would like to go home, too, because we have a big final tomorrow.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Nothing bothers me nowadays.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I said that the other day.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I'm immune to all things.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Me, too. I don't know how it happened. Even today on the doubles court, some shots, I was so calm. Normally, I would have pretty much messed it up and gave it away. But I'm so calm now.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Maybe. Maybe.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Again, we're not here to talk about John McEnroe, anything he says or does. We're just not here to talk about that.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I didn't know about that.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Go ahead.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Serena gets a new car almost every year. I've been sticking with my truck. And that's the biggest difference off the court.

On the court, maybe I like to play a little slower than what she does.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Like as in bouncing the ball more?

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. I think I walk a little slower. Nothing really speeds me up anymore.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Hmm.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I have this level playing nowadays.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I thought you played pretty fast. Especially at The Open, you were going really fast. Had to really speed it up.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, when we're both on the court, we're just having so much fun out there. We just laugh and giggle. It's different. It's maybe not as serious. As Venus said yesterday on her resume, she put, "Singles player, not doubles player." So we try to take singles more seriously. We're taking doubles seriously as of late. We've really been taking it more seriously than we have in the past. It's just a more relaxing environment because you're out there with, you know, your best friend. You just talk about other things besides tennis. You're able to relax. I think it actually helps us to play better.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Just about maybe our singles match, how we did, what we think we would like to improve on. Just whatever.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Many things.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Playing guitar.

VENUS WILLIAMS: We have a lot of strongholds in doubles. We go for the immediate break, which is natural normally.

SERENA WILLIAMS: But we take it seriously. Even if we're down, we just stay calm. It's not the end of the world. We just try to stay pretty calm out there.

SERENA WILLIAMS: That's kind of an out-of-the-blue question. I honestly can't think of anything right now. Not right now. I'd have to think about it for a second.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, normally I've noticed on Venus' serve, she talks more about tennis, whereas on my serve, I talk more about something that happened in the past. I don't know why. Because normally when she serves, she says, "Okay, we're going to serve up the T, out wide," wherever the case may be. Sometimes we often maybe say, "Yeah, about this." Whatever. Normally on my serve, we talk about other things.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Normally the server decides.

SERENA WILLIAMS: But sometimes the net man will see that the opponent is moving either left or right more.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Or sometimes you ask for a suggestion, "What do you think?" Other times, "I'm just going to get it in."

VENUS WILLIAMS: Perhaps. Perhaps. I haven't spoken to really any fans about it.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I said I haven't really spoken to any fans about it.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Most certainly it gives so much attention to the game, it's unreal.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I mean, we make the covers of more magazines. More people are seeing it. More people are paying attention to tennis. You guys are in here writing about it. I mean, it's a huge story. I think it definitely gives more attention to women's tennis.

SERENA WILLIAMS: As I say, I just don't get nervous anymore. Maybe at the very, very beginning round of a match maybe. Normally, I don't have nerves.

VENUS WILLIAMS: I just haven't had a tough time in my life. Sorry.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Very nice, I think. Especially at this point it's become very important for us to win the doubles, being in the semifinals. It really was just a struggle to get -- is it the semifinals or the quarterfinals?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Semifinals.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yes. (Laughter). It was just so hard to get through those rain delays.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Now it's just kind of put a real fight into us.

SERENA WILLIAMS: We would love to play three more matches in this championships, more than anything, and win three more matches. We'll see.

VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah, but just not enough energy for it all.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, it's too much.

SERENA WILLIAMS: We should. We might.