US OPEN

September 2, 1998

Serena Williams

Q. How did it go?

SERENA WILLIAMS: It went very well out there today. I played a lot better than I did the other day, so I was pretty excited.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Are you inferring to the WTA patch?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I wear it.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think everyone makes their own choice, the WTA COREL has done a lot for the WTA Tour, they sponsored it for the past two years, so, I think it is a good idea, but -- yeah, so.....

SERENA WILLIAMS: I feel pretty good going into this match because I have played her twice this year. I am going to have to be serious because every time I play her I have a tough set, so I am going to be looking forward to it, just make sure I am playing well and try to be serious.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I haven't looked at the draw. I don't know anything about --

SERENA WILLIAMS: Great. You just had to tell me? (Laughs)

SERENA WILLIAMS: It is great. It didn't hurt at all when I went out today, but the trainer suggested that I wore something just to make sure it was in a happy medium throughout the whole match so,....

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't really -- I don't think I have played inconsistently in my career. I think the little career I have had is pretty consistent with my wins, trying to do the best I can do. I haven't any of this. Any of these inconsistencies maybe you have to ask another player.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think I was a little nervous in the first round and I just didn't play well in the first round. My shots weren't going in. I was going for a little too much. This time I came out with a plan, maybe last time I didn't necessarily have a plan, so that had to be the factor there.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah.

SERENA WILLIAMS: My plan was not to miss.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I don't think it is different having my dad at the Grand Slams because we have been doing great with my mom also. We have been doing great with my dad. So I think it is actually the same coach. They both teach the same skills and the same things. So it doesn't matter whether I have my dad or my mom here.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Sometimes like overload. (Laughs)

SERENA WILLIAMS: Okay. Well, when I was younger I just remember growing up there, just going to school, and having fun. Yeah. I think that is enough. I am really -- I don't want to talk about that right now. Maybe some other day.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I haven't disagreed so far. I don't think that he has taught me the wrong thing in coaching. If anything, I am not doing all the right things. So, if I would do all the right things, I would definitely do a little better. It is kind of hard, sometimes you go out there and do everything perfect, so I don't disagree at any points that he has.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I think I might be a little more serious before my matches, where Venus goes out -- because I tend -- maybe I might even be a little tense, maybe a little stressed, not as stressful as some people. But I think I sometimes go out there a little stressed. I could learn from Venus to be a little more relaxed and just more flowing and smooth before I go out there.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Anyone hear know where the word ghetto came from?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I will answer that question when someone knows.

SERENA WILLIAMS: That is great. Maybe you can ask him further on that. Wait until you know.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think I am very exciting. I think Venus is very exciting. Maybe those are the two players from Compton that he was suggesting there. I think it is exciting. But you still don't know where the word ghetto came from. It is important.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think you should look it up. I think everyone should learn. It will be great to come in here after my next match and you guys actually have the definition for me. I know where -- actually it will be a test. I would like to see that.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I am not sure. Right now I am just trying -- I am not even thinking about that right now.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes. That is -- I am not sure right now. I just have to think about that a little in the future. Maybe, maybe, I don't know.

SERENA WILLIAMS: You are using that word again. I think it is good. I don't see anything wrong with the US Open here. I think it is a good area by the city. You are by a couple of urban areas, more or less, so, I think it is actually a great idea to have the US Open here. It is nice, you get to see a lot of things. You get to see how other people live of different backgrounds.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It really meets my expectations. I know Arthur Ashe stadium is really huge. It is the biggest out of all the slams, so -- as for the other stadium, I was a little shocked. I remember when I was younger, I saw Boris Becker, it was like slow motion, he threw the racket into the stands, I was like: Wow, what a throw. But now, I can see why. So.... Other than that, it meets all my expectations.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I am sure there is a lot of things that I do well that she can learn from me. I think that will be better if you asked her because I wouldn't want to force anything on her.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I was going to go to the Warner Brothers store because I am a great avid fan of Scooby Doo. So I was going to go over there and actually I have a Scooby Doo baret. I have -- so I am going to see if I can find a pin, maybe a watch and more barets, so that is what I am going to do.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Actually I couldn't tell you what happened back then. But I do know that sometimes I can get a little out of control, you can say, but I think actually if I had that happened, I probably wouldn't be here right now. (Laughs) I wouldn't probably be able to play on the COREL WTA Tour; probably have to join the ATP Tour. So, I will be over there, maybe. Probably would have lost in the first round, would have been tough. Thanks.