WIMBLEDON

June 21, 2014

Serena Williams

LONDON, ENGLAND

THE MODERATOR:  Questions, please.

Q.  How much are you prepared for Wimbledon this year physically and mentally?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I think both I'm really prepared for and really excited to
be here.

Q.  How do you feel coming here after the French?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I feel good.  I feel like every year is another year.
I feel happy to be here.

Q.  Can you tell us what you've been doing since the French Open?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I've been doing just a lot of training, just working out,
trying to get ready for the next event, which so happened to be Wimbledon.

Q.  When did you arrive here?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I got here on Sunday.  So, yeah, almost a week.

Q.  Were you practicing back in Florida before that?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yes.

Q.  With your father?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yes.

Q.  Serena, when you lose early in a tournament, do you watch the tennis
after that or do you divorce yourself from it?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I didn't watch this one in particular, but usually I do
watch, enjoy tennis.

Q.  How about the World Cup?  To what degree have you been watching, and what
are your thoughts on the U.S. team's progress?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I watch a match, at least one or two games every day.
 Excited for the U.S.  Obviously I'm rooting for the U.S.  We were finally
able to beat Ghana, so that was really good.

Q.  What did you learn about the team from that game against Ghana?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I thought they were really aggressive.  They played really
well.  We had a guy out early, which was disappointing.  I thought the fight
that the U.S. male team has was just really great.

Q.  Can I ask you what you make of Matosevic's comments where he says he
doesn't rate the women's game?  And would you like to play him in a match?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Oh, I didn't read his comments.  I'm okay.  I don't want to
play anybody.  Just females, please.

Q.  A bunch of pictures coming out of you and Caroline in Miami in various
leopard prints.  Talk about your time there.
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I love Caro.  We have a great time together.  Obviously she
was in Miami, so we kind of hooked up and we hung out.
You know, she was -- just trying to be a positive influence in her life.

Q.  There's a lot of debate about Andy Murray's appointment of Amélie
Mauresmo at his coach.  What is your take on it?  Are you glad to see it or
are you surprised by it?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  It doesn't bother me one way or the other.  I think Andy
Murray can make any decision he chooses.  I think Amélie Mauresmo was a
former Wimbledon champion, a former No.1, and I know she's won more than one
Grand Slam.
So that's his choice.

Q.  Can you ever in your post playing days envision being the coach of a top
female or male player?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I can't answer that question.  I have no idea.  I can't say
no because I do think that one should never say never; however, I don't know
the answer to that.

Q.  What feeling do you have when you come back here as someone who has won
here as often as you have?  How do those experiences carry forward into this
tournament for you?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  It carries a long way.  It feels good.  I feel good.  When
I came here, I just felt a sense of being home.  I really like being here.

Q.  You've said that you'd never say never.  Why do you think there's not
more female coaches in the game?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I have no idea.

Q.  Would you personally have a female coach?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I don't see why not.  My mom still helps me out a lot.  I
don't see why not.

Q.  A lot of people thought you might be given the first spot on Tuesday.
 With Bartoli not defending and you were the previous year's winner, it went
to Lisicki instead.  Wondering your reaction to that.
SERENA WILLIAMS:  She was in the final last year, so she was two sets closer
than I was.  So why not?
For me, you have to be ready to play on any day.

Q.  Your French Open defeat, how long did it take you to get over that?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Who says I was over it (smiling)?

Q.  Are you not over it then?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, I doubt it.  Knowing me, no.

Q.  There's a whole new generation of young women coming through.  Do you see
them as a particularly talented group?  That whole generation, do you see
them as an exciting prospect for women's tennis?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I think so.  I think the young ladies have really stepped
up their game and really want to prove that they can be great.  Will be
great.  They are great.
They are the future of tennis.  I think, in particular, all the Americans,
obviously I have an interest in.  So I would like to see them do really well.

Q.  I don't know if you're close to Taylor Thompson.  I heard she was
criticized by the American Federation about her weight.  What I want to know
what's your opinion about that?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  That actually happened a long time ago, and I actually
already gave an opinion about it, so...

Q.  What recollections do you have of the type of player Maria was 10 years
ago when she won here, and what observations do you have of Maria as a player
sense?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  It's hard to believe it's been 10 years.  It's not many
people that have a really long career like that.  Just speaking
longevity-wise, I think it's great.
You have to evolve.  You can't just play tennis and just keep hitting and
hitting.  You have to do things better, and I think she's been able to do
that.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports