MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 5, 2013

Serena Williams

MADRID, SPAIN

S. WILLIAMS/Y. Putintseva
7-6, 6-1

THE MODERATOR:  Questions, please.

Q.  Congratulations.  Are you happy with your performance today?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I felt a little sluggish out there, but I'm happy I was
able to win the match.
Honestly, I obviously have to and want to play better as each match goes on.

Q.  How long have you been here in Europe training for the clay court season?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I've been here a little over a week; maybe a week and a
half.
Not super long, but long enough.

Q.  Have you just had the opportunity to train here in Madrid or have you
been training somewhere else?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I was training if Paris for a few days and now I came to
Madrid a couple days early.

Q.  Can you compare the conditions of the clay courts?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, well, I think these clay courts are really good.  I
think they're a little bit faster than the ones I was practicing on in Paris.
 For me, that's always a good sign.
Conditions, it's a little warmer here- a lot warmer here.  Overall, I think
it's really good.

Q.  Your opponent today, she's pretty intense out there.  You must know her
well from the Mouratoglou Academy?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, we train sometimes at the same facility, at
Mouratoglou in France.  I see her around a lot and I see her working really
hard.

Q.  How has it been, your preparation?  Obviously your first clay court
season with Patrick.  Has your preparation differed?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  It's a little different.  Not much different.
Just it's not something that I think would make such a big change.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports