BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL

January 4, 2013

Serena Williams

BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND

Q.  Obviously not what you were expecting tonight.  Disappointing that Vika
had to withdraw.  What are your general feelings on her and having to pull
out of the tournament?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I like Vika.  I think she's a great player.  I love playing
her.  It sucks.  I had that toe problem just a couple weeks ago and it's
painful.  God, it's so painful.  Doesn't sound painful, but it is.  You can't
walk with that.
I hope she gets better fast.

Q.  And obviously it's going to change your preparation slightly for the
final.  What are you going to do tonight and tomorrow given that you haven't
played a match tonight?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I'm definitely doing enough to prepare and be ready.  I
feel like even though I didn't play a match tonight, I played some really
good matches here.
It's just like a regular tournament for me.  It's going to be fine.

Q.  So it's Anastasia or the lucky loser, Tsurenko, who is a bit of an
unknown.
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Tsurenko is playing really well.  I think Anastasia is the
favorite.  She was practicing so well.  I looked at Patrick a few times when
I was practicing, and I was like, Gosh, she's playing so well.  I'm totally
not surprised she is doing so well and getting so far.  Either way it'll be a
good match.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports