WIMBLEDON

June 29, 2001

Serena Williams

WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND

MODERATOR: First question, please.

Q. Match today seemed to go okay.

SERENA WILLIAMS: You say it seemed to go okay?

Q. Yes. You don't seem to be having real problems here at all.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't think I played very well at all today. I couldn't
get my feet moving. I thought I made a lot of errors. I haven't seen the
stats on how many unforced errors I made. I lost serve twice, which was
really upsetting. My goal is usually not to lose serve, so...

Q. You've often spoken about being a student of history, not necessarily
tennis history, but world history. In terms of tennis history, Jennifer
Capriati has made this incredible comeback. She's more than halfway to the
Grand Slam. What for you has been most impressive about the way she's turned
her life and her career around, as you've observed it?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, the most impressive I would say has been just to
regain focus, you know, because -- I guess, I don't know, I wasn't on the
tour at the time, but I assume she was having some tough times. It can be
tough at times. Maybe I think the fact that she was able to regain her focus
and regain her tempo and everything was great.

Q. How do the players, such as yourself, not necessarily your opponents, feel
about what she's done? Has she sort of, in addition to being the fans'
choice, kind of players' choice, because of all she's been through to come
back this way?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I don't know really. I know -- you know, I don't know.
I really wasn't paying attention to the question. Sorry (laughter). I don't
focus well.

Q. Does she have players on the tour kind of rooting for her to do well
because of all she's been through?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I would imagine so. I would imagine so. I definitely was
rooting for her in the Australian and stuff. I definitely would think so,
yeah.

Q. When you met her last time, what was most difficult about her game? What
sort of level is she at right now?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, she's definitely playing a good level game. She's
definitely doing her best. When I met her last time, she played a great
match, yeah.

Q. If you weren't happy with how you played today, what will you try and
change before the next match?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I got a little nervous with running out there because
it was slick and I fell. I kept slipping a few times. Maybe I should try to
be on my toes a little bit more. I will just try to -- I didn't hit as many
winners on my forehand and my backhand the way I usually have done in my
other match. That's what I'll just work on, hitting the shots the way I've
been practising.

Q. Did you tweak your knee a little bit? Were you afraid that maybe did you
when you slipped out there once?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I did, because I kind of -- my left leg went under my
right. It was just really weird. I was like, "Whoa!"

Q. You don't feel anything now?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, not now.

Q. It was written recently that you and Venus have a kind of authority like
no one else. If you were guys, we would all be cheering your competitiveness
and your intensity. But since you're women, you're called catty or some have
said that you lack humility. Do you think there's kind of a double standard
or whatever?

SERENA WILLIAMS: In all honesty, I think so. I think Venus and I, I don't see
where we don't lack humility. I'm a very friendly person, I'm a very nice
person on and off the court. People when they beat me, I tell them, "Good
match and good luck." There's no need to be bitter. Tennis, there's a next
year, a next week. Basketball, I can understand there's a difference. You
don't have a chance till the whole next year. You know, tennis you get every
week. I don't know. I know with the way we've been doing, our wins, who
knows. I know Tiger Woods wins a lot. Maybe we don't win as much as Tiger
Woods. We need to start to. I don't know if they call him cocky or not. I'm
not sure because I don't -- I really don't follow sports, believe it or not,
outside of tennis.

Q. How do you think you've changed and matured in the last two or three years
since you came on tour?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I think mostly I've matured mentally. I used to have a lot
of problems. I used to get down on myself a lot. Now, after watching Venus a
lot, I just try to keep the same look on my face, no matter what happens. I
think most of all, especially in the past year, I've done a lot better with
that.

Q. What about growing up from being 17, 18, how have you changed now as a
person?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I guess as a person --.

Q. Feel like a grown-up?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Sometimes (laughter).

Q. Venus said yesterday - I'm sorry to bring this up - she says you still
have a bunch of growing up to do. Did you hear that?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I didn't. I would imagine that I do. I'm only 19. I know
that I can definitely -- there's always room for improvement, always. I'm
ready to grow a little more, for sure, for sure.

Q. Venus also said she was very proud of you. When you play, how much of you
is thinking of your family name? How much do you draw on that for inspiration
during a match?

SERENA WILLIAMS: None. I don't think about that on the court. I leave all
that off. When I go out there, I think about the opponent that I play, doing
the best I can to win that match.

Q. I've been waiting all week to ask you a crazy question. Your previous
answer sort of tied in. If you had to go to dinner with any one of the
following five people, who would it be: kobe, Shaquille O'Neal --?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Sorry, no facial expressions (laughter).

Q. Kobe, Shaq, Tiger, Bush or Clinton?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I would have -- I would say Clinton. I would say
Clinton, for sure.

Q. Why?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Truth being, I'm not a Laker fan. Miami Heat, Toronto
Raptors. I'm not a fan of the Lakers. I like Kobe, though. He's a nice guy.
I'm just not a fan of the Lakers. As for Tiger, I don't know. I mean, he's a
great guy, great personality. If I have a chance, I would definitely pick
Clinton if I was brought that opportunity, for sure.

Q. And George W?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, he has brought the taxes down, so I do like that.
Hopefully he can keep doing it. I don't know much about him yet. He just got
into office. I myself was always a democrat. But I don't get involved in
politics. Now that he's brought the taxes down a bit... I'd just choose
Clinton out of all of them.