TMS - THE ERICSSON OPEN

March 25, 2000

Serena Williams

WTA: Questions for Serena.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I played okay. You know, I think I'm feeling a lot better. I feel I'm really trying to cut back on the errors. I think I made more in the second set than I did in the first. I'm doing a lot better than I was.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I hadn't ever played her. I didn't know she hit so many balls cross-court. The majority, I would say 99.9%, of her balls would go cross-court. It was kind of strange, you know.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Right now I'm definitely feeling a lot better than I have in the past. I went home and I really worked on a lot of consistency, a lot of movement. I just worked on different things that I hadn't worked on. There's always a change in someone's game, so I'm trying to change for the better.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, it does a little. Venus is the defending champion. She only lost once at this tournament, I believe. Unbelievable. It feels weird. But, you know, I'm a player. I'm definitely ready to play.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I really want to do that. I want to go ahead and take it home. I'll do my best.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, take it home.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. It's a lot of events to play in a ten-day tournament.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't think so. I'm really concentrating now on my singles. That's where it is mostly.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It's going very slow. The stadium at Indian Wells was built in like, what, 12 months. Our house has been like 16 months and it's still not built. It's like 6500 square feet, but still there's no reason.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I should give the name, but I won't.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No. There's so many things you have to choose. At first in the beginning it was great. "Wow, I want this." Now it's, "I'll take that." It doesn't matter anymore." "Do you want this?" "Sure, it doesn't matter." We got to pick out chandeliers. I didn't even see the chandeliers. I don't really care anymore. I really just don't care. It's so tiring. All the decisions, it's unbelievable.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, definitely for sure. My game has definitely grown. I've won more titles. I'm a more consistent player. I'm a better person, looking better, yeah (laughter). Everyone is really trying to improve. You've got to improve the whole all-around Serena, not just the tennis one.

SERENA WILLIAMS: There was a lot more people. To be honest, I was bothered so much before The Open, during The Open and after The Open, I couldn't really tell you the difference. I couldn't go anywhere really. I really still can't. I guess people recognize me more, maybe my name more. Usually it's always Venus Williams and the other sister. Now more people - everyone - is saying Serena Williams, sometimes they say the other sister. Sometimes it goes vice versa. If they say Venus, I can keep walking, because I'm not Venus. "Can you sign this, Venus?" "Oh, I'm not Venus." I can just walk by. It doesn't happen so often at all.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I read that.

SERENA WILLIAMS: You really have to ask her. I mean, rumor has it she's retiring. I read it myself. Like, Wow, Venus, are you retiring? I have the inside information. Unfortunately, I'm not able to release that.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I'd be very surprised. I'm sure you guys would, too. I'm going to announce my retirement at Wimbledon (laughter).

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. This is my last event. It's been swell. Wait, this is 2000 now. It's been great.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I guess. I mean, women deal a lot with emotions sometimes. I guess a lot of people act out. I know a few people say things to the press that obviously don't add up at all. As for me, I kind of like to stay out of it. I'm not in the soap opera. I'd rather do a movie. I'm not the soap opera type.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I guess it's fun. It gets women's tennis out there. Everyone is excited to watch, see what's going to happen next, who is going to go where. It's really exciting. It's the future.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, no. I only can go in the fall, then I have to play tournaments. I've played too many tournaments. I can't do it.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No. I mean, she said she could have since she didn't play. But she thought she was going to play. She was really disappointed that she wasn't able to take any classes. She could have had another whole quarter under here. Unfortunately she doesn't.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, she is. I see her out there actually working. It's her wrist. I see her out there working on her legs, strengthening, conditioning. I'm going to have to be ready when she comes back.

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