US OPEN

September 2, 2000

Serena Williams

MODERATOR: Questions for Serena.

SERENA WILLIAMS: So far, yes. It was good. I had a tough match. At first I thought I would want an easy match every round. After Wimbledon, I realized that I don't need that. I need a tough match here and there. It was good that I played her today. I feel that I played a little better than I did in my first two rounds.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I haven't played her before. Obviously I've seen her play a lot. It should be a good match. I've always wanted to play her. I'm finally glad I get a chance.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Is she?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Right now, my game can compete with anyone. It doesn't matter who I play. When I'm on, I can compete with the best, anyone.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I'm definitely playing a lot better. So, yeah, for sure.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Obviously, she's a very strong girl. I can only applaud her for that. She never says anything negative about anything. She doesn't even really talk about it. That's great. She's very strong. That's really a good sign.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, I'm definitely a better player. Last year I don't see how I really won, to be quite honest, compared to how I am now. I wasn't that consistent. My whole play, I made a lot of errors every day. Now, overall, I'm just a better player. The Serena of today could definitely beat the Serena of last year, although it would be a tough match, because any Serena is hard to beat on any given day (smiling).

SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, I'm really not thinking about that right now. I have a plan to defend here. I'm trying to do well, trying to get my game back together. I was off a little while with my foot. I hear these things, but I really don't think too much about them.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Keep the ball in play.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I mean, I would go through matches. Even the final, I had like 51 unforced errors. That's absurd. I can't believe that. I don't do that anymore. The beginning of the year, I was still doing that. I really cut that out. I really cut that Serena out of me. Just get the ball in play.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I mean --. Excuse me, I'm not going to say "I mean" anymore. Well, like I said, she's a very strong person the way she deals with it. She doesn't really talk about it. She always keeps her head up. She supports her dad, her father. I really appreciate that because my parents have always brought me up to be very strong with the family. Family, it means everything to us. Apparently it means a lot to her also because no matter what he does, she's always by his side. That's really important. I really appreciate that.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, obviously that would be great. It would be an opportunity that would just be magnificent. It's what we've wanted for our whole careers. I have four more matches to go. I really look forward to that moment. But I have a couple milestones in the way, a couple roadblocks. I have to get by those first.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think it should be done, I guess, because I'm in the situation. Obviously I'm pro, I'm for that. The professionals are different from the juniors. If I really want to be on the opposite side of the draw every time, we have to see that we're 1 and 2, then forever we'll be on opposite sides of the draw. It is kind of stressful every time, I'm looking, praying. To be honest, that's my own double-fault (sic) that I haven't taken the top spot, at least 1 and 2, or 3 and 4, so we're always on opposite sides.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Competitive all the time, "I want you right now." (Laughter). "Good night, Venus, I'll see you tomorrow on the court." No, we're not like that. We don't think about tennis 24 hours a day. Tennis only lasts for so long. There's so much more beyond tennis. We're just able to see that. We're just having fun in what we do right now. We've worked so hard for so long. We want to have fun. Venus and I, when we're off the court, we're really not tennis oriented, although our dolls are.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes, actually we do. There's a great competition going on right now with autograph signing. We have -- I think we did something, then wanted to sign like 50 or 60, say 100 autographs. We're in a race. I won that one. Then the next time we were signing of our doll cases. Unfortunately, the lady couldn't pass me the box in time, or else I would have won. We're tied at 1-All.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It has to be very legible. You can't have an S and squiggles. It has to be legible. That's basically the only thing we're competitive in.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Everyone has a different heart. Everyone has a different body. Everyone does different things. I think for Venus and I, we just tried a different road, and it worked for us. I can't tell you whether if I would have played junior tennis or not, it would have been different one way or the other because I didn't play, so I really am not able to distinguish whether it would have been. But I think at some point I might have been slightly jaded due to the fact that I would have traveled to France, I would have been to Australia, I would have been to England, I would have been here. By the time I come to the professionals myself, I get bored easily, I would have been slightly jaded.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I've always wanted to get into a Yoga class, but only for the stretching, not for the spiritual part. I haven't had time. My mom and I both want to sign up for a Yoga class. It kind of helps you with your breathing and relaxes. I'm really interested in that.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, she's really not too much interested in that (laughter).

SERENA WILLIAMS: Holding up a trophy at the end of a tournament. It's the best. For me it's a great feeling. I really -- I don't know. I'm really competitive. I like to win a lot. When I'm able to hold up that trophy, it's a great feeling for me.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Obviously, yes, it was. Really, when I can just get any trophy. Obviously I would want to hold up a Grand Slam trophy.

SERENA WILLIAMS: This tournament?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes. It's been a little bumpy, but it's okay.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes, it does, for sure.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Who knows? Stay tuned.