TMS - INDIAN WELLS, WOMEN

March 11, 2001

Serena Williams

MODERATOR: Questions for Serena.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes, I think so. Yeah, it was a slightly slow start, you could say. I just think I was going for it too much. I was trying to get a feel for her game, that's it.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Overall, yeah. I think I played much better today. I'm getting the feel of it much more. I feel a lot better about my game. Yesterday I was most disappointed.

SERENA WILLIAMS: That's my first time playing her, yes.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't really mind playing, doesn't matter, lefty, righty.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I don't believe in luck. But it's a nice dress.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm going to play the Ericsson.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It is. I'll drive there, have a lot of fans there.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It's kind of convenient. I think it's more convenient to play in the States because for me you don't have to get used to different time zones. When I come to the West Coast, it's not really a big difference, just three hours. If you go to Europe, it's six hours, England five hours. Australia, you really need to be there days ahead of time. But it's just more of a convenience for me. That's it.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I feel a little of both. I still feel whenever I come to California like I'm a California girl. But when I go to Florida, I feel it's my home. But I feel like a California girl.

SERENA WILLIAMS: West Coast girls are different from east coast girls.

SERENA WILLIAMS: They're just different (smiling).

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think I'm going to go out and watch her a little bit. She's playing really well. She gave me some tips before I went out there. That's what I'm going to do, I'm going to go watch her and learn a little something, since I like to copy her. See if I can really start copying now.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Of course not. I'm under so much pressure. I'm under so much pressure right now, I don't know what to do. But, you guys, if you want to write an illustration essay, feel free.

SERENA WILLIAMS: She's crazy.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I'll give you an hour and a half (smiling).

SERENA WILLIAMS: Of course not. Like I said, I'm under so much pressure right now. I'm ready to crack. Hopefully I'll get it in today. I am going to get it in today. I'm going to have no other choice. I don't know why I waited till the last possible minute.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, but this is ridiculous.

SERENA WILLIAMS: That's the only one I did. It was fun. It was a small part.

SERENA WILLIAMS: We're doing one for Essence.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I didn't have a slow start this year.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I don't think so.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, the number of matches I play.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, it wasn't the same. This year is not the same as last year. The only reason I didn't do better at the Australian Open is because I had food poisoning. I was barely able to breathe. I think I did pretty well there considering. That's it. I don't think it's the same as last year at all. I'm playing a lot better than I was last year. Last year, there was actually someone here -- I wasn't here last year. There was someone here pretending to be me and gave me a very bad reputation.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I really don't like to answer that question.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I feel better. I think I'm most of all more confident. My strokes are better. I'm looking at some of the tapes I saw back then. I just think my strokes are much more smoother. They're just better.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I was determined to win. I didn't want to lose. I made up my mind, you know, months before that I was going to win the US Open.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think so. I think when you go into a Grand Slam or any tournament, you have to tell yourself you're going to win before you get there and really believe it.

SERENA WILLIAMS: That's to myself right now. You'll see, though.