WIMBLEDON

July 3, 2002

Serena Williams

MODERATOR: Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen. Serena Williams for you.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes. I served very well in my fourth round match also. Haven't lost serve in two matches now. I've been working really hard on my serve. I don't think I really served the way I can and have potential to serve all year starting back in January. But it's coming along.

SERENA WILLIAMS: For me, I just go back and try to stay warm and try to keep my body moving because I just want to be -- when I go out there, I want to try to win the first point, if possible, when I get back out on the court.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It's really easy for me. Nothing bothers me really any more. I've become jaded. Some of the things I've been through in life, I just don't think anything can really bother me at this point.

SERENA WILLIAMS: That's just to keep me focused because sometimes I tend to lose focus when I'm out there. I just -- on the changeover, I tend to look around. So I just get something that I can look at, to keep my focus when I'm playing.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, no, they're notes that I make, just reminders of things I need to do when I'm out there.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Actually, a long time ago I saw Venus do it. I always copy her. I just decided to do it.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I saw her in practice today. She's definitely trying to move up to the balls, and definitely trying to play more aggressive. I just think I just need to go out there and play my game, just do whatever. You know, it's not a fact of me so focusing on what she's going to do; I just need to focus on what I'm going to do, just get serious myself.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I've definitely had two tough matches with Amelie, actually maybe three. I think we played three times, I'm not sure. I know twice it was 7-6 in the third. Maybe I'm fabricating. I can only remember once it was 7-6 in the third. I know one time it was 6-4. I definitely had some tough matches against her. She's going to come in here. She's playing well. She has a really nice slice. You know, I'm just going to go out and just be focused this time. It's time to get serious and just buckle down really.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I like playing Jennifer. We always bring out the best in each other. It assures at least one American is going to get one round farther.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Honestly, I can't remember.

SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, I'm always up for a vacation these days (laughter). You know, I'm -- we'll have to see.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. It's just -- the scheduling -- it's just mostly the rain, if anything. The only time I get a phone call. Any other time I couldn't pay my phone to ring. Sorry. I'll just turn it off because I know, since I'm in here, I'll probably get another one. As luck would have it. I don't remember the question.

SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, I don't know. I think I'm just a little bit frustrated because I would have liked to play today, but obviously I couldn't have Mother Nature do anything else. So it's not really a problem. I just think hopefully we'll be able to get on soon. We'll see.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Nothing, because I have to get there first. I can't focus on that. I have to win against Amelie, which is going to be tough, because everybody is fighting and playing very tough these days. And then I probably have to beat Venus, which is -- she's playing very well here, or Justine Henin. You know, we've had some tough matches, a couple weeks ago. So I'm just taking it -- hopefully two matches left. I'm just not even thinking about that.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Most definitely. I'm definitely as fit -- oh, 10 aces (looking at her stats). I'm definitely as fit as I've been in a long time. I'm really happy. I can go and go and go to infinity.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think the serve and the return are definitely 60, 70 -- okay - 80% of the game. If you're not serving well or you don't have a serve, it's going to be tough to win. But if you have a good return -- you know, between those two, I think it just makes up most of the game. So I think serving well, returning well, will be very, very important.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Definitely for Wimbledon I think the serve may be a bit better because the grass is quicker. I noticed when I was practicing against Venus, her serve seems to be -- just has something more on it as opposed to a clay court or a hard court. So I think for grass, it's important to serve well. But, hey, it's also important just to return well also because if you are returning well, then you're going to have to counter and get these serves.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I didn't realize I had that many aces. You know, I didn't lose serve. But I had a lot of breakpoints against me. One actually I think I was lucky to win because her ball hit the line. I just kind of got it back. You know, for me there's always room for improvement - always. I haven't gotten anywhere close to my potential.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Actually, I didn't practice -- I played a doubles with it first. It worked well. My mom liked it more than the black one, although I do like the black one more. My mom likes this one more. I don't know. I just kind of -- luck of the draw, I guess.

SERENA WILLIAMS: She's definitely a good player. She's definitely been doing well. She's won a big tournament. She's backing up that result by doing very solid in the Grand Slams. I definitely just think, you know, she's playing very well. Not only in the first set, but the second set also. She didn't give up in the end. She kept fighting.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm sorry, I didn't see that.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Whenever I practice with her, I seem to just get better because her game is just on a different level - at least in practice (smiling). But sometimes for me, I get disgusted because like I don't feel that I'm playing up to her par, as she is. It really brings out the best in me. That's what we should do, really bring out the best in each other.