WIMBLEDON

June 26, 2003

Serena Williams

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, it's definitely been a long day. I haven't done this in a while since maybe Australia in January. But, you know, you got to expect it. I don't think they expected -- they expected us to play doubles yesterday, so that's why they put us on late. I just want to do a quick turnaround because I know Venus has to play tomorrow, singles.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, yeah. Still stiff. They're playing I think above their means and they're playing really well.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, for sure. You know what, Corina was playing very well last year I think at the US Open, as well. She's the epitome of a fighter.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, it was better than my first round, but still want to work on some things. My first serve is 75%, so that's much better. I think I was at 50 the other day. Els Callens honestly plays some of the best tennis on the grass, and you have to be really be playing tough to beat her.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Maybe half hour. But, I mean, it's a good workout. I'm trying to get in shape (smiling).

SERENA WILLIAMS: I mean, I'm in very good shape now. I'm not tired. I'm running for long points. I don't get tired at all, so it's good.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, not today. We're having a tough match. But normally -- normally, we smile a lot more. But this was a very serious match. We're trying to pull this off, hopefully.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I've seen her play Venus in I think it was Connecticut last year. She's playing really well. I had no idea who I played next, so you kind of caught me off guard. I haven't really watched too much of her play. I'm going to ask Venus, obviously, because Venus has played her before. You know, she's doing well. I know at one point she was lower ranked, and all of a sudden she's higher. She's been doing really well , much better in the Slams, as well. It's going to be interesting. You know, I definitely can't take anything for granted.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I think it depends on personalities right now. I think Andy Roddick has a fabulous personality. I'm not one to watch men's tennis, but I get excited when I see him playing because he's exciting to watch. His antics on the court, you know, he fights, he says, "Come on," he screams, does wild stuff. I think it all boils down to personalities. In women's tennis right now we have several different personalities. It's a lot going on. I think that's what it boils down to maybe.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, if they come out like Goran Ivanisevic, you know, obviously they will. There's not too many people out there like that. I think it all boils down to who can really make it exciting to watch. You're flipping the channel, you see something exciting, you're going to want to watch it.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, we've been winning a little more than Juan Carlos Ferrero. If he had trust and belief, he would have won more, due to -- we don't make that much money. All my money goes to Uncle Sam.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, not at all. She started playing a lot -- no. She started playing better. I just was staying at the same level. She didn't give me a fright because I knew what to expect, and I expected her to keep doing well.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Not at all.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, she's not one to keep to herself at all. At the same time, she isn't one that's over-talkative - gregarious, I should say. She's really nice. She's very polite and fun. You know, she's a nice person. But I don't know her personality. From what I can tell - I don't know her personality as well as the next person. She's always been nice to me. I talk with her and her trainer. We all get along.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I never thought she was overlooked, so I'm not sure.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No. One of us used to always play Petrova. She knows our game pretty well. Petrova is doing great. I've played her on the grass a couple times. Venus has, as well, I believe, played her on the grass. If not, she's played her several times off the grass. Petrova is playing well. But I think Venus is doing well at this tournament. It's definitely going to be a very good match and very interesting. I'll be there.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think my mental has increased. My anger has increased. I think with that, naturally the hunger increases.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Not too much fireworks.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, when I say "anger," I just mean with myself. Just a little disappointed in me, in not being able to pull through some tough moments. I just want that opportunity to start over and do again, what I know I can do.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I think I was resistant. From the first point, the crowd was psycho. I was resistant pretty much the whole match. I think I did a pretty good job.

SERENA WILLIAMS: What do you mean?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, that's on her, you know. She knows what she did. I know what she did. The TV knows what she did. In the end, she won the match. She didn't win the match because of that point. Really it was probably me hitting in the net or hitting out, going nuts. But that's not why she won the match, so it doesn't really matter. It matters, but it doesn't really. It's just one point. That one point's not going to win the match. You've got to keep fighting.

SERENA WILLIAMS: She's playing well here. With her hand issues -- I mean, I'm not saying I'm looking forward to playing her because I have vengeance out against her or anything. I'm looking forward right now to playing Laura Granville. I can't look that far ahead.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It would definitely be great to get to do it again. We just really would be back in the Grand Slam final. It's only been one Grand Slam, so... It definitely would be very exciting and I'd be very happy.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think I've grown, definitely. I've learned a lot, moved on a lot, just really realized that when -- something Billie Jean shared with me a long time ago just sticks in my head at night, I can't sleep.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I can't tell you just in case someone wants to read my transcript and decide that they're going to do that, too.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think there is room. I think the only problem with that, tennis players now, is that we are trained every day, "Be quiet, you can't talk." But I think if someone in the new generation comes along and they're trained to play with noise, they're trained to go with matches with a lot of noise, it's okay. I think it just depends on what you're talking about. I think in our generation right now we're not trained for that.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I can't answer that. I really can't. I'm on both sides of the fence with that. It's definitely fun to go to an NBA event and make a lot of noise. But at the same time, you have five people on your team, and it's different. It's just a totally different environment. It does make for exciting one. But tennis is different. We're not that other sport.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Maybe, "Drop the ball," but they don't hear me. "Drop it. Fumble. Fumble." Of course, yeah. But that's under totally different circumstances. It's completely different circumstances.