ROGERS CUP

August 14, 2015

Serena Williams

TORONTO, ONTARIO

S. WILLIAMS/R. Vinci
6-4, 6-3

Q. Congratulations, Serena. Out of the four matches you've now played against
Roberta do you feel this was the best she's brought against you and how her
slice and her all-court form can be kind of awkward to play against?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I've felt that, you know, I don't remember the last times,
because we don't play like every single week. But I think it was a couple of
years ago, and then before that it was probably months. So it's always a long
time in between. But I think this is the best she's been.
Her slice, I think I handled it really well tonight. I think she just-- more
than anything her serve was, I think, what really kept her really strong in
the match.

Q. And regards to how you felt despite a few strokes going not your way
tonight, but how you still persevered, do you feel that you're still getting
that form back to where you want to be at in getting to the semifinals here
where you feel that you got through this one and this is just another step on
the road to where you want to get to?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I definitely feel that's a good way to go, just
another step, you know, in the right direction. I don't feel like I'm at my
best or anywhere near it. But I feel like I'm going in the right direction
and I want to keep that up.

Q. Serena, a couple of weeks ago you said on a conference call how much you
liked Toronto, and obviously the fans really love you. You know, you like the
city. Just wanted to find how cool is it to have one of the biggest rappers
in your corner supporting you as well.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, it's cool. We've been friends for so many years. So I
don't think about it anymore. He's just like a normal person to me. Yeah, but
you know, he's super nice and super sweet, super amazing person.

Q. Seemed tonight like you had to get angry with yourself in order to get the
best out of yourself. Why is that?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't think it's angry. I think it's more getting pumped
up, and just wanted to be pumped up with myself.

Q. How did you find the court conditions?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I find them really slow in the beginning, but now I feel
like the ladies are hitting the balls right through the court and they're
moving pretty fast.

Q. You slipped a few times.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. It's really slippery. I slipped in my first match, and
now I slipped today. Yeah, so hopefully I'll be all right.

Q. Just to go back to the question about Drake a moment ago. I'm just curious
have you ever been on the tennis court hitting any balls with him? Does he
have any skills on the tennis court?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. We actually hit several times. He's really a good
player. He said he played tennis when he was younger. I thought, really, of
all sports. So he's always kind of been into tennis. So we hit a lot. Not a
lot. But we used to hit a lot. Yeah, he's really good. He says he can take me
lefty, which (rolls eyes) gets me charged up. (Laughs).

Q. So would he make a better tennis player or would you make a better rapper?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, man. I guess that's the start of another question. You
know, that's a good question, because tennis takes a lot of years of skill
and of, you know, practice. And I'm not saying rap doesn't, but I don't know.
Rap, you gotta like think off the spot and do all this other stuff. So I
don't know. Let's just say I'm doing the right thing and I think he's doing
the right thing.

Q. More serious question, many people obviously consider you one of the
greatest, if not the greatest female tennis player of all time. Who do you
consider among those who came before you, either that you watched on TV
growing up as a kid or you played earlier in your career, as the best female
tennis player?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, obviously I feel, you know, for me growing up
watching, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles was just a great time. And then
watching some of the-- yeah, I think those two are people that really stuck
out for me in my generation. So yeah, it was really cool to play them and
just be a part of that.

Q. I'm not sure if you heard, but a couple of times this week Ana Ivanovic
has sort of said that she would really like to see you win the US Open. I'm
just wondering how it feels to know that some of your competitors are
actually pulling for you and are really supportive of you and what you've
done this year and what you've done throughout your career?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, it makes me feel really good. You know, I've gotten a
lot of support from the players in the locker rooms, and you know, obviously
they want to win, but if they don't, I feel like I'm their second choice. So
you know, that feels really good. It goes a long way.
Yeah, Ana and I are really good friends, and she's just so amazing. We'll see
what happens. But she's just a really nice, funny, sweet, beautiful girl. So
yeah, I think the ladies in the locker room really get along and really just,
yeah, for the most part, we all just enjoy each other's company.

Q. And just wondering also, you're well known for the mental strength you
have on the court, and I'm just wondering if that's something that you
developed over the years, if you kind of remember a time in your career when
it sort of started to work out on the court there for you?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I think when I first won my Grand Slam back in
the 90s, that my first Grand Slam I feel like that's when it started, like
mentally in that final I was so mentally focused. I knew what I needed to do
when times got tough. And I was shaking because I was so stressed about
winning this first Grand Slam. I just locked in mentally and just did what I
needed to do.

Q. So can you break down just for your next-- since we don't know who you're
playing, Bencic and Ivanovic. Can you just break down those two matchups for
you? Are they different? Do you see them as similar, and how do you see that
matchup going?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think both of them like to get balls back in play. I think
that's one thing that's similar. Ivanovic is super aggressive on her return,
and her serve has improved 100 percent over the past couple of years. So her
serve has become a strength for her.
Bencic, on the other hand, she gets a lot of balls back in play. She plays to
win. She's really strong mentally, and I think she feels like she can-- she
is the next generation. She is the next person that's going to be the
greatest, and she has an opportunity to prove herself, and that's always
interesting to play a player like that.

Q. And now you're in the semifinal rounds. Usually when you get to this stage
at any tournament, you're pretty tough to beat; seems like you're locked in.
Do you feel that as the week progresses, that especially here, that your game
is starting to lock in a little bit more? Do you feel more positive after
today's performance, for example, than maybe the last ones?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I definitely feel more positive today. And I feel like
each game and each week is getting better slowly and steady. And like I said
to Patrick after the match, I don't want to peak too soon, you know. I just
want to hopefully keep doing well and keep going.

Q. Serena, you mentioned Belinda being the next generation. I think when you
were 18 you went to the finals of this tournament and lost to Martina. For
her in her debut, what advice would you give her in this situation?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, she's doing great. I think her father is giving her
great advice as it is. Just keep it up. What else can you say. I wouldn't
change anything.

Q. What do you think about Halep's comeback and whether or not you see her
playing in the final here?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't think she's having a comeback. I think she's been
playing great pretty much. She's won a lot of tournaments this year. We've
had a tough match this year. So I wouldn't label it a comeback. I would label
it a great player that's continuing to prove how good she is.

Q. Very early on, top players seem to fall, you know, the first and second
day. And it's a lot of No. 1 player. Does that change anything as you kind of
approach later on in the week?
SERENA WILLIAMS: You mean in this tournament?

Q. Yes.
SERENA WILLIAMS: No. I just play the best I can and do what I can.

Q. And just wanted to ask how if Drake feels when you say that Green Day is
your favorite music artist and if he feels a little jealous about that or any
others since green day you have been a big fan?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I said Taylor Swift. I'm a huge Taylor fan. I think as
long as I'm-- that's a question you have to ask him.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports