ROLAND GARROS

September 26, 2020

Serena Williams

Paris, France

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Happy birthday.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I generally try to forget this day. I generally don't
celebrate birthdays.

Q. When you were a teenager, did you still think you'd be playing at the age
of 39? Do you feel fit enough to carry on into your fifth decade?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I honestly never thought I would be playing at my age.
I mean, I don't quite look 39. But yeah I don't know when it's going to stop
for me. I just have fun. When I feel it's over, it's over.

But I could have guaranteed and pretty much bet my life that I would not have
been playing at 39. This is why I don't bet (smiling).

Q. You talked in the U.S. about your own personal health, reasons why you had
to be careful during this pandemic. How difficult a decision was it for you
to come to Europe? What were the reasons why you made that decision?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I love it here. Obviously I feel like I'm so close to doing
better, just playing better. Honestly, I just need to keep playing matches
and keep playing people.

For me, it was really important to do everything that I could to just create
my own personal bubble, just to stay in it, a travel bubble, like everything
that I can possibly do we kind of do. It works. It definitely beats staying
at home.

Q. I know you have an apartment in the city. Presumably you're not allowed to
stay there. Has it been a bit unusual staying in a hotel when you have your
own home very close by?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, it's very different and weird.

(Loss of Teams stream.)

SERENA WILLIAMS: You guys went out? Can you hear me?

Q. I'll ask the question again. You obviously have an apartment in Paris, but
you're having to stay at a hotel. I was wondering if it's a bit weird staying
in a hotel when you have a home nearby?

SERENA WILLIAMS: It's definitely weird. This has always been my home away
from home. I always loved being here. It has been really different for me
staying at an apartment when I'm like, Oh, this is what we normally do.

I guess it's a must.

Q. I see you didn't really play tune-up events prior to Roland Garros. What
was your preparation like from the US Open to now?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I didn't play any tune-ups, which is really rare. But
this whole year has been really rare.

After New York I flew to France and I've just been training at Patrick's
academy, mostly rehabbing, trying to be, yeah, ready. So that was basically
what it was, rehab and training.

Q. We saw you were suffering an Achilles problem in New York. How is that?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I'm here. I wouldn't be playing if I didn't think I
could perform. I'm not at 100% physically. But I don't know any athlete that
ever plays physically when they're feeling perfect. That's just something I
think as athletes we have to play with.

Q. It kind of seems like it's a dark time. There's a little bit of maybe
fatigue or something around the tour. What are you doing to stay positive? In
your opinion, is it important to have some positivity in order for you to put
your best foot forward?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I'm in general just a happy, positive person, so... I
think just having those different personalities help. For me, anything can
happen, as we've seen this year. Nothing is guaranteed. You just have to be
really excited about each moment that life gives you because you don't know
if it's going to be your last personally, so...

Q. I saw a video of you last week where you said for anyone else, a semifinal
would be amazing, but for you, you're Serena Williams, so people don't say
that. How do you see it? Are you able to take positives out of winning five
matches, forcing an opponent to play at their best tennis? Given that your
standards are so high, is that not sufficient?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I think a semifinal is always great. Is it great for
me? Absolutely not. That's just how I feel. That's how I always feel. It is
what it is.

I'm happy that I can feel that way. And really there was nothing I could do.
Yeah, there was nothing I could do in the end. It was what it was. I mean,
I'm in a position in my career where I cannot be satisfied. I don't want to
sit here and say, Oh, I'm happy. Because I'm not.

Q. You're looking to equal Margaret Court's record. Lewis Hamilton is also
looking to equal the record of Michael Schumacher. You know each other very
well. Lewis has spoken highly of you recently. What do you think of Lewis,
his achievements, also his relentless campaigning recently against injustice?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I'm a little surprised that Lewis just spoke highly of
me (laughter). Lewis and I are super close. I've known him for years. I love
that guy. He's a really good friend of mine. The guy is such a champion. Has
such a champion's mindset. I look at what he does training, physically, his
job, it's really no words for it, to be honest.

He is for me the greatest driver that our generation has seen. I'm confident
that he will break the record of Michael Schumacher, who was also a fabulous
driver.

But Lewis is so intense. If you know anything, even if you're a fan, you know
he lives his life on his sleeve. He's very emotional. He says what he says.
That's just who he is. He doesn't care who you are. That's one thing I've
grown to really appreciate about him, as well.

Q. Are you excited about the new roof on Chatrier? How do you feel about the
cool conditions in Paris right now?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I hate the cold. I'm from L.A. and I live in Florida. For
half my life I've never seen snow. Cold weather and me do not mix. That's my
Achilles' heel (laughter).

But I'm dealing with it. I'm having a positive attitude about it.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports