COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

September 28, 1999

Serena Williams

WTA: Questions for Serena.

SERENA WILLIAMS: My life hasn't changed a lot at all. I'm still practicing and working hard. There's many more Slams for me to win, set records. So if I want to do this, I have to continue to work hard and do my best. As for the fine, I was so tired at the Fed Cup, I could barely walk. I even have a cold now. I still have a cold. I don't think what the tournament director said -- I think they were a little angry. I feel really sorry that I couldn't play the tournament. I mean, I was hoping to go there next year. Who knows? As for the fine, after winning the US Open, I can pay that (laughter).

SERENA WILLIAMS: It was pretty exciting for me. It was horrible. I had to go from the US Open to home. There was a hurricane there. It was just a horrible moment for all of us. Then I went straight from there, the soonest flight out to California. I had to practice, work with the team. It was great. It was a lot of fun. I was excited when they announced it would be Venus and Lindsay playing the singles. I was like, "Yes, I don't have to play." I was pretty tired, pretty much out of it. The team, I love playing Fed Cup. It's a lot of fun. I didn't realize it was going to be that much fun. It's good.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Really. I was just asked to do basically all of them, like Today, Good Morning America. I did some CNN thing, something else. I really wish I could have done them all. I love doing CNN. I just did what I could do. Like I said before, everyone wants a piece of me, and I don't blame them.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I did not. I was going to play Luxembourg. I just didn't have time. I was pretty disappointed because I was really looking forward to seeing her. I was thinking that she might be more popular than me and I wouldn't have to sign so many autographs.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, she was making a lot of errors. It's not like I really won those first four games. She was making a lot of errors. Then she started playing a little better and I wasn't ready. When I started playing better, I started thinking, concentrating more, I was able to do better. I totally wasn't focused out there the first set. Missing way too many shots. My first serve, as usual, the percentage was down. That's basically what went on.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, the court? I wouldn't say it's so fast. I think closer near the baseline, it's fast. Middle area, service line, it's not that fast. It's kind of weird actually. I excel indoors, hard courts, yeah.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. Actually I missed my flight coming over here. I was thinking, "Hey, will they hold the plane for the US Open Champ?"

SERENA WILLIAMS: I play another tournament next week in Filderstadt. I think I play the Chase after that.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I don't know. That's a good question. I don't know. I couldn't tell you. Probably her. Probably her.

SERENA WILLIAMS: If I do go out, I'll just enjoy the scenery, not so much the drinks and the beer, et cetera. I've been to Germany three times. Never been to the Oktoberfest. I hear everyone say it's so exciting, fun, that I should go, rides, things like that. I think maybe I'll go this year.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It's definitely pretty quick. You know, got to take your opportunity. Life doesn't last long. Before you know it, my career's going to be over. I'll think, "Hey, if I could have done something a little quicker." Now I don't have to think that way. I actually went out there and did something about it. You have to take your time as quick as you can, take it or leave it. I took it.

SERENA WILLIAMS: What have I bought since The Open? I'm doing really good. I haven't bought anything. I bought some furniture, so. That's where my money is going, mainly to furniture. I'm trying to keep it a little low other than that.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah.

SERENA WILLIAMS: People are saying that?

SERENA WILLIAMS: When?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Really? Everyone can see the players I beat, I actually have a record over them, beat them a lot. No one ever said when other people won their first Grand Slam it was a fluke. Apparently it's not a fluke, and it shouldn't be a fluke with me.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No. Maybe it will be a fluke (laughter).