THE LIPTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 23, 1999

Serena Williams

REVEN OLIVER: First question.

Serena WILLIAMS: I think I really played solid today. I was really focused. I didn't lose serve at all, so that was what I was really looking forward to doing. I think I really did that pretty solid.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Right now I'm feeling pretty confident. Who wouldn't, you know. I haven't lost a match in a little while. I'm playing tough opponents and having pretty solid wins over them. I'm feeling very confident right now. Very.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Last year I was young. It was my first time playing matches against top players. This year I guess you can say I'm old.

SERENA WILLIAMS: So I'm a little more experienced. I know how to handle those. I'm determined not to lose those points anymore. That will be my own doublefault.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes, she was really taking advantage of a lot of opportunities to get to the breakpoint. It's just I didn't want to lose serve today and I just was trying to stay focused and really hold serve, or hit a big one in, or try to get a good second serve in.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I actually think she played very well today. I've really never seen her play this well. She probably came out really trying to play me well and I actually saw her run fast today. Any other day it was different, but today, boy, she was on the run. She got balls I really didn't expect her to get. That was my fault because I should expect everyone to get every ball.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, I don't fear anyone. I fear God only.

SERENA WILLIAMS: We are both playing very well. If we both make it to the final, I guess you'll have to see. Venus is playing awesome. I'm playing good.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, who doesn't want to decide to win.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, just, like I said in all my interviews before. I just think the only thing I'm doing differently now is, I'm just thinking positive. I only have positive thoughts in my mind. I'm not thinking anything negative. I'm thinking optimistically.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Less issues?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, yes, I guess so. Last year I had my goals set too high for me to reach it. This year I said just to win one match at a time, do the best I can do. It's good for me. Really good.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, really?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I never was aware of siblings having the upper hand mentally. I think that's just something that's just in a book. You can't always trust that. (Laughter)

Q. Does it make a big difference for you playing so close to home or does it influence you if you play --?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I like playing here at home because I always get to play on stadium. I like to play on the big courts, so it is exciting. I have a lot of fans here.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes, I have a lot of supporters. A lot of fans in the crowd. Yes, so I like playing here a lot.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I definitely think so. We are both powerful, but we are also consistent. We both can run fast and we also have like a lot of touch. Just a lot of different things in our game. We are really setting the standards for the future generation. Tennis is always going to take a step up now that we've come along. That's good for the game.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think what helped me develop was watching Venus play, win her matches, to see how people play, how people were on the tour. I was able to come on faster than what Venus was. I think that's what helped me more than anything. You have to ask her about Juniors.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes, but I'm not playing doubles tomorrow.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes, I get a lot of balls back, too. I've been looking forward to playing her. Venus played her a couple of times. She is going to tell me how to play her. I don't have anything to lose. I'm pretty excited about it.

SERENA WILLIAMS: You never play a doubles before a singles match. You always play singles --.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Why am I wearing two watches? I always have -- I have these rubberbands on right now. I always have two watches since like last year in Australia. I used to have a green Eggs & Ham watch, now I have a Scooby-Doo watch. I Love Scooby-Doo. I watch it all the time.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't like to talk about tennis when I am off the court. I like to talk about a lot of other things. Tennis is not my whole life. It is just something I do as a professional. Like when you go home, do you talk to your wife, or whatever, about -- do you talk to her about, you know, your journal all the time?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, so I don't talk about tennis all the time either. You have to have a balance.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It will just be great for me to make it to the final and Venus to make it to the final and just for us both to be there. So it will just be a great experience, I think. It will be fun for me. Venus and I. It will be fun for a lot of people to watch. It will be exciting.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm playing a couple of tournaments in Europe, yes.

SERENA WILLIAMS: What are my plans? I plan to go to Europe.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Was he here tonight?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes, he was up with Venus and he's always at a lot of my matches. He really supports me. Sometimes if I hit a bad shot I look up and he goes come on, come on. He makes me feel good.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Not yet. I haven't seen him yet. I will definitely talk to him today.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I didn't watch Venus play because I had my own match. I was at the hotel and they didn't show it on TV. I was stressed out about her previous match. Really stressed.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It was Venus' idea why don't we do it, the Tennis Monthly Recap. She just came to me and said, hey, look at this. I was like wow. So I wrote an article about -- my first article was the great Brazilian Hope, and her -- I did an article on Hanover, like the ATP Tour Championships and she did the Chase Championships. So, it was her idea and we just grew on it, and now it's getting pretty big, too big.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I do. Maybe one day you will see me in here asking questions for the Tennis Monthly recap.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I haven't yet done an interview with Serena, so we will have to wait and see.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I've noticed that. Long time ago, when I was playing in Sidney, I was playing Steffi, and it was so tough on me because I didn't really have any fans. Then I saw some Brazilians on the side, they were pulling for me. Whenever I see a Brazilian I always give them an autograph and a sign. I'm really nice to them. It's really great.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Serena. Serena. There is actually a new tournament in Brazil, I'm not going this year, but I'm definitely considering going next year.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes, I definitely -- some tournaments, not every tournament. I go to enough.

. SERENA WILLIAMS: I think my outfit is cute. I don't think it is funny.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Thank you.