WIMBLEDON

June 24, 2014

Serena Williams

LONDON, ENGLAND

S. WILLIAMS/A. Tatishvili
6/1, 6/2

THE MODERATOR:  Questions, please.

Q.  Long first game, but after that you seemed to get your feet under you
pretty well.  How important was that first game?  Did it settle you down any?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  It was very important.  I think she played well.  In the
first game I think I made an error or two, but it wasn't like I played
terrible in the first game.
But she hit some great shots.

Q.  With Venus having played really well, as well, what would it be like for
the two of you to advance here into the second week, as in years past?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Well, I can't think of that now.  I just have to focus on
this week.

Q.  What are your observations of the way Venus is playing right now?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  She's been practicing really well.  I know she's been
really working hard.  She's putting a lot of effort in both on and off the
court, so it's good to see.

Q.  You play another American in the next round potentially.  Christina
McHale, what do you know about her game?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  She's a really, really good player actually.  She's feisty
and she's quick.  She's a dynamic player.  She does everything well.
So players like that, it's interesting to try to figure out what their
weakness is because they don't really have anything overwhelming as a
weakness because they do everything really well all around.  It will be
really interesting.

Q.  The USA plays Germany tomorrow.  What is your thought on the game and the
World Cup right now?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, you know, we were so close to getting that win.  I
was really sad.  We could have been in first place, which really would have
been awesome.
Could have, should have, would have, doesn't matter.  We're still tied for
first technically.  We're still trying to go on.  I think U.S. soccer is
coming a long way.
I love watching the U.S. men soccer players play.  I'm supporting the whole
way.

Q.  A couple of slips out there for both players.  Concerning for you at this
stage of the tournament?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I felt like as the tournament goes on, it usually gets
better.  So hopefully I'll get my bearings a little bit and get better.

Q.  Motivation is such a curious thing.  Could you talk about what motivates
you?  Is it the history books, the big picture, something within you?  What
really motivates you?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  To just do the best that I can.  Wherever I slip, I try to
get up.  That really, really motivates me.

Q.  Having setbacks is something that really advances you in the long run?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I think so, for sure.  For me, absolutely.

Q.  With all the success you and your sister have had here, all the titles
you have won, obviously what you do is working.  I'm curious why you've never
played grass court warmup tournaments.  Did it ever occur to you?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I've played a couple in my career.

Q.  But it's not something you do regularly the way a lot of other players
do.  I'm wondering why that came about.
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I just don't know.  I never usually play.  I played a
couple times.  It didn't work out for me.
I think getting here, getting here early on the grass and practicing here is
a better option.

Q.  When did you get here this time?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I arrived Sunday.

Q.  When you're moving on to the grass, getting ready for this surface, what
for you is the most difficult part of getting used to the grass?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Just in the match, you know, just getting used to running
and stopping.  Like usually it's a dynamic move for me so I have to get used
to getting back in the frame of that, mind frame of being more dynamic on the
court.

Q.  When you're sitting there watching the Heat struggle so much against the
Spurs, do you reflect on that?  Do you relate it to your athleticism, times
when you have trouble kicking into gear?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  No, not at all.  Everyone does well.  I think the Spurs
played great.  I mean, they were I think angry that they lost last year so
they have something to prove.

Q.  You might be able to relate to that?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Absolutely.

Q.  After Paris, how long did it take you to regroup and get refocused and
remotivated?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, it didn't take too long.  I just took a couple of
days off.
The day I stepped on the court, it was a lot of focus and intent.

Q.  You were just asked about the Miami Heat.  What are your thoughts about
LeBron James opting out and keeping his options open?  What would you like to
see happen?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Obviously, we'd like to see him stay in Miami.  But, hey,
you got to keep your options open I guess.
I don't know.  It will be really sad to lose him.  He's such a wonderful,
great player.  He's brought so many championships to Miami.  Hopefully he'll
opt to stay.

Q.  What message would you like to send to him?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Who am I to tell him what to do?  I can't send any messages
to him.

Q.  What do you like best about this tournament and about London?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I like the grass.  It's so unique.  There's so much history
here.  I love how everyone's wearing white.  I just love how it's really kind
of traditional, which is different.  I really like it.

Q.  And about London?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  London, I don't make it out to London too much.  I wish I
could.  But I'm always here in Wimbledon, so...

Q.  Let's milk this NBA thing.  What about Shaq?  He was here.  A huge guy,
playful and fun.  Have you ever talked with him?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, I know him really well.  I saw him also in Miami at
the Heat game.  We've known each other for years.  I had no idea he was
coming to London.  I'm surprised.
But it was nice.  It was good to see him around.

Q.  You said a little while ago it's too early to talk about week two.  How
about reflecting back, when you and Venus are both in the second week playing
at your best in the tournament late, what is the feeling you get because
Venus is there with you?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  It's a great feeling.  You know, we motivate each other.
 We want to do well.  When she does one, I want to do one.  We just always
keep each other motivated.

Q.  Assume you've seen the recent Beats video you make an appearance in.
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah.

Q.  Talk about making that.
SERENA WILLIAMS:  It was really fast.  It's easy to work with Beats.  They
shoot everything fast and fun.  To be part of a World Cup campaign, it was
really cool, especially to support the USA, let them know there's so many
athletes out there, people that are really supporting and getting behind you
guys.  There's always negative press in U.S. men's soccer.  It's like, We
know you guys can do it, so it's great.

Q.  Tennis, as a free agent, you kind of get to do what you want?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  That's a myth.  We have to play a certain amount of
tournaments.  We don't have to; we can just accept a fine.
Depends if you want to pay a fine or not.

Q.  How often do you decide to do that?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Sometimes you can't help it if you're injured.  It comes
with the sport.  It comes with life, so...

Q.  It was so cool when you played Stanford after working so hard here.  Your
heart set on playing it again?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I'm into it, so I definitely will be there.  God willing,
I'll be there.  So, yeah.

Q.  Are you playing Montréal?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  It's been a really long time.  Yeah, I have plans on being
there, too.  I always play Toronto and somehow skip Montréal, which is weird.
I really want to be there this year.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports