Serena Williams – 04.06.2013

TENNIS – 2013 Roland Garros: S.Williams d Kuznetsova 6-1 3-6 6-3


Q.  Can you describe your joy after the match?  It was sort of relief.  How
did you feel during this match?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I was definitely glad to win it, so afterwards I was really
excited that, you know, I was able to win such a tough match.

Q.  What was going through your mind in the final set?  Because the first set
was so straightforward, but in the final set, 2-Love down and she had the
break point.  Difficult moment for you there to come through.
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, I just thought I really wanted to hold serve there.
 I felt like if I could win this game and if I didn't, then I was just gonna
have to break and hold.
So, you know, it wasn't a win/lose game for me.  I just wanted to win that
particular game.

Q.  There were a lot of momentum swings in the match, and obviously she
started to pick up her game in the second set and your level dropped.  Your
feet got a little sticky.  Were you aware of that, and can you talk about
sort of managing those ups and downs and the nerves when they kick in?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah.  I think she started playing better, and I didn't get
ready for that, so to say.  And, you know, I really had -- even though she
was up 5-1 or 5-2 in the second, it really could have been easy, like 2-All
or 4-All or something or 3-All, I should say.
I made some key errors.  So I just tried to think about just trying to make
more shots.

Q.  So is the internal monologue, Oh, my God, here we go again?  Or is it, No
one wants this as badly as I do and I know I'm going to come through and make
it?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  The no, not again is just so brief because I can't dwell on
that.  I'm in a Grand Slam still.  Even though I was down I was still
competing, so I couldn't necessarily dwell on the fact that I've lost so many
quarterfinal matches here.
So that was just a brief, brief, brief, like fleeting thought.
And after that it was just, Let's just play this match and let's just do the
best that I can.

Q.  Previously when this would happen, like, what had you been thinking?
 Mentally for you what's the difference now between now versus a couple of
years ago?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Well, I have always been -- I don't think I can say because
I have always been able to come back a lot throughout my career.
I don't think anything really changed.

Q.  The next match is against Sara.  Can you talk about that?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  It's going to be a really good match.  You know, you've got
to appreciate how consistent she is.  We had a pretty tough match in Madrid.
 I'm going to be ready.
I'm glad I played her in Madrid because I know she's here to play and she's
here to compete.  She's so serious.  I can be ready for that.

Q.  Not to dwell on that one moment where you had the brief thoughts, but at
what point in the match was that that you thought that?  Also, how has it
Patrick helps you with dealing with whatever emotions you have and pushing on
forward?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I guess when I was serving at love-2, and I thought, you
know, Can't go out like this again, kind of thing.
As for Patrick, we don't really talk about those moments.  We just talk about
what to do on the court and how to play my game.  I think the one way he has
helped is whenever I do look up, you know, he's just so calm and so
confident.  I think that gives me the fortitude to be more confident and
calm, as well.

Q.  Did you look up and get that look or a look of confidence from him today?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, I looked up a few times.  I definitely saw it.  I
wasn't -- yeah.

Q.  At the end you talked in French.  How do you appreciate the support of
the crowd, first question?  And the second, can we do your next presser in
French, you think?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  You know, I really felt the crowd today.  Like when I was
down in the third, like, I heard so many people saying, Come on, Serena.  I
was really, really happy to hear that.
I just felt really good and I got really pumped up.  I didn't want to let
anyone down.
I don't think I should do my press conference in French because I have too
many American journalists.  (Smiling.)
They won't understand.

Q.  You're looking as fit, if not fitter, than you've ever have been.  Do you
agree, and what do you put that down to?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, I guess pretty fit.  I don't know.  I had some
chocolate yesterday. (Laughter.)
And the day before and the day before and the day before.
So I don't know what really I put it to.

Q.  Chocolate your weakness?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Actually, no.  I usually don't like chocolate.  For
whatever reason I wanted some chocolate with caramel.  Then I wanted a
macaroon.  That's my weakness, macaroons.  And I love chips.

Q.  How are you so fit after all that?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I know, right?
I work out pretty hard and I do a lot of physio stuff, physical stuff.  And
when I do eat these things, I only eat like one or two, literally, and I
throw the rest away.
So that's the key.