Serena Williams interview 13 May 2013


Q: Serena, You won Madrid on red clay after a long time. Do you think its
time to win here in Rome?
S. Williams:  I'd love that – to do well here and to win but its definitely
tough but yes, it would be nice. Its been so long since I won here.

Q: You could be playing Venus in round two. What do you feel about having
Venus playing on the tour?
S. Williams:  Great. She has good moments and is great physically and its not
easy and undoubtedly I'll have a tough second round match but Ill see what I
can do.

Q: If its not Venus, its Laura Robson. What do you know about her?
S. Williams:  She has a great game and is really young and just free and
looks great on the court and so smooth and she is a leftie and this adds a
notch to her level. She's a great girl and good to see her. I've never played
her before and I'd love to. It’s a tough second turn.

Q: A couple of days ago there was a video of Medina Garrigues roughing up the
balls before serving. Did you see it.
S. Williams:  I didn't  see it but I heard about it. I don't know if its
right or wrong – I'm out there to play and I don’t know if she was doing it
deliberately to make things go slow but I won the match and

Q: When that happens do you laugh it off saying its pathetic. What is your
initial response
S. Williams:  I laugh it off and I don’t …   I try to go for the best and
I've never had a problem with her. She has always been really nice to me and
so I always think the best.

Q: What do you think about Sara Errani. Do you think she'll make it to the
top 5 or not?
S. Williams:  Absolutely.  I played her in the semi final last week and she
played well and she's impressive and keeps getting better and improving. I
think its very impressive.

Q: You didn't lose a match to Sharapova in 9 years. Is she a special opponent
for you?
S. Williams:  I think when I play tough opponents like her you have to be
ready and so not only her but other high-ranked players I have to bring a
better game as there is a higher risk of losing.

Q: You won Charleston and Madrid last and this year – how do you feel
mentally and physically.
S. Williams:  I fell different this year – much more calm whereas last year
I felt happy and good about it but I feel more poised and ready to play more
consistently.

Q: You won Madrid on red clay instead of blue clay last year – this is the
first red clay victory in a while . Does this give you extra confidence for
Roland Garros
S. Williams:  No more confidence absolutely.. I couldn't have been more
confident last year, so no, it gives me no more or less confidence.

Q: Its nearly a year when you started working with Patrique. When you went to
him last year, was this a reaction after Roland Garros and you needed some
outside help.
S. Williams:  I didn't want to go home as I had some personal stuff and so I
needed a place to train in Paris and I had known him and so I asked him if I
could try it with him.

Q: Just going back to that time, you didn’t expect to work with him
permanently or was that a build up to Wimbledon?
S. Williams:  I was looking to train and not looking for a coach and to this
day my mother and father train me and I'm not looking for anyone. I was just
looking for a tennis court.