SANEX CHAMPIONSHIPS

November 3, 2001

Serena Williams

MODERATOR: Questions for Serena.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, for sure. I'm feeling a lot better. I'm serving a little better. I talked to my dad yesterday a long time, because I wasn't too happy with the way I played yesterday. He told me, "That match is over; you don't need to think about it anymore."

SERENA WILLIAMS: Really? I didn't know that.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Whatever happened in the past is the past. Trust me, neither me or she is going to be thinking about what the past record is. This is the last match of the year. She wants to win it; I want to win it. You know, that's old news. It's just old news now.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, she's been winning a lot of tournaments. She won the past three tournaments. She's very consistent. She's playing a lot of events. Those points up there are really close. It's really close up there. Anyone could be No. 1 at any given point in time, those three players. It's very close.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think maybe -- I don't know. I think a lot of people could go out and play the Grand Slams, they play it too hard, then they get to the other tournaments and don't play as hard. I think no matter what tournaments you're in, not only you, but also for the tournament directors, I think you should go out and play every match as hard as you can. I think since the Slams are special, maybe there should be a few more points at the Slams, yeah.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I do. I haven't lost in this hall. I'm trying to keep it that way. I love playing here. We'll see tomorrow.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I became afraid to fly. I suffer from xenophobia. That's my only issue. I don't like to fly to start out with. It took all my guts to get on the plane. The next thing I know, I was here. I said a lot of prayers, prayed. I think that's the worst way to die, is on a plane, or maybe drowning. I don't care, I have too much time on my hand (laughter). But I think that's the worst way. I was really afraid. I was.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No. I just said some prayers, went from there.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It wasn't that bad. It actually wasn't that bad. It wasn't as bad as going to Australia. No flight is long to me compared to Australia. It's like everything else is quick.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, yeah. That's another thing that made me want to come. I was watching, what was it, Filderstadt. I was like, "oh, I wish I could be there." I wanted to be there so bad. I wanted to be in the competition. I knew I could have been in the final there. I knew I could have done well there. I wanted to play there. That really kind of motivated me to get off my bum (laughter).

SERENA WILLIAMS: They only show like the finals. Unfortunately, Venus and I don't have cable at the house (laughter).

SERENA WILLIAMS: It's a little too expensive. We don't have cable. We're only able to catch the finals (laughter). Actually, Venus was getting that fixed when I left.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think so. I think getting up the first time and going. I'm okay. The security is unbelievable now. Well, at the big airports, I left out of Miami. The line to get through is literally like two hours. But, fortunately, I didn't have to wait in the line like that. I think things are hopefully going to be a bit better.