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U.S. OPENAugust 28, 2012Serena WilliamsNEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK S. WILLIAMS/C. Vandeweghe THE MODERATOR: Questions, please. Q. How windy was it out there? SERENA WILLIAMS: I mean, it was blowing a lot at the Olympics. I think this may have been more than the Olympics. I usually gauge the wind by my hair. If it's really going forward, I'm thinking, It's really windy. It was really gusty, so at some points it would be really windy, at some points it wouldn't be. At the Olympics it was definitely more all the time windy. Q. How do you adjust your service toss? SERENA WILLIAMS: For me I just take pace off my serve. Today I didn't really hit too many aces. Also she returned really well. She was really reading my serve. But I didn't hit anything too hard because the ball, I wouldn't have known where it was going to go. Q. You are notoriously a tough grader of yourself. Hard to find any red ink on this performance, I would think. SERENA WILLIAMS: Really? Are you that guy on Twitter Tennis? Q. No. SERENA WILLIAMS: Sorry. I like the guy on Twitter. Can't remember his name, though. I don't know. I think I give myself‑‑ I mean, the match was so weird, the conditions were so tough, I couldn't really play my game. She couldn't really play her game. It's not the best opportunity to grade yourself. Q. You said the No.1 player in the world was the player who believed in their heart they were the best. Do you believe in your heart you're the best player in the world? SERENA WILLIAMS: Of course. I believe that. I think there's a number of players on this tour, a few players who believe that. I don't think we would be playing if we didn't believe that. Q. You're handily beating for a good stretch now the other top players. Does that really show in a more objective way that Serena Williams is the best player in the world? SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, I mean, I know what I am. I don't know about the ranking. Like I don't care about the ranking. I've been No.1. It's cool. But for me that's just my thing is just to be the best player. If that means, you know, I'm winning and not No.1, that's fine. But these players now, they're very consistent. They've been playing every week. They've had a really consistent year. They didn't lose in the first round of Paris, so maybe they're No.1. Q. What does it mean to you to be a role model and mentor to Sloane Stephens? SERENA WILLIAMS: It's a lot. She's really awesome. She's a great person. I think she's an amazing player. She's playing so smooth. She looks like she gives no effort when she plays. She's such a beautiful, beautiful player. And, yeah, I embrace that. I hope I can teach her some things, and hopefully she's able to do it. You know, I think we can kind of feed off each other. She can teach me some things, maybe how to be calm on the court. Q. What are the qualities about her that you appreciate most? SERENA WILLIAMS: Like I said, I love her game. I think she does everything all around really good. She's moving really well. Off the court I think she's a great person. She's always saying hello, she's laughing. She's always encouraging me not to be single (smiling). She's always telling me I'm going to find somebody one day. I always tell her, No, I'm not, and complaining about it. She's positive about that. I think she's more my mentor than anything. She really keeps me upbeat. Q. Did you watch Venus play? How well do you think she played in general today? SERENA WILLIAMS: I didn't see. I saw the first game she lost and I couldn't watch any more. I was too nervous. I maybe saw the last game. I didn't really see the match. Q. According to James Blake, he says you're the most mentally tough player on the women's tour. How do you stay in that zone? SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, I think mental has been probably my strongest game. I've won so many Grand Slams off of it, so many matches because of what I have upstairs. Sometimes what I don't have. I think for the most part‑‑ my dad always said tennis was mental. For me, that's kind of what I listened to. Q. You spoke about the whole year. Back before Brisbane, you were quoted as saying you didn't love tennis, didn't like practicing that much. You've had this incredible run now. Has that changed? Do you love tennis? SERENA WILLIAMS: I do. I love it so much. I hate to compare it to it, but it's like a disaster, a drug, I know I can't live without it, but one day I know I'm going to have to let it go. Q. Does that scare you? SERENA WILLIAMS: It does. I tell someone like, You be careful, I'm going to start loving tennis. Q. Have you had as good a feeling since Wimbledon and the Olympics? What has this stretch felt like for you? SERENA WILLIAMS: It's amazing. It's been a long stretch. I think what's been even more amazing is the fact I'm playing singles and doubles and going really deep in both events, being super fit for both. I really love winning singles, and I love winning doubles. Every time you step out on the court you have to bring it mentally and physically. I'm really excited that I've been able to consistently ‑ and hopefully I continue to consistently ‑ do that. Q. Your good friend LaLa, what does it mean to have her support at your match? SERENA WILLIAMS: It means a lot. I'm really good friends with La, Mel. It's cool. We missed each other at the Olympics because the venues were so far away. US Open time, them being in New York, Mel being such a great name for NewYork City. It's really great to have them come out and support me. We're always hanging out and laughing. It meant a lot. Q. At Sloane's press conference, she was asked if she's the next superstar on the scene. What are your thoughts on her potential? SERENA WILLIAMS: I think she has a great smile, a beautiful face. I think she has such a wonderful personality and attitude. So, yeah, I think it's totally possible. FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports |
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