SONY ERICSSON OPEN


March 28, 2009


Serena Williams

KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA


S. WILLIAMS/A. Glatch
6-2, 6-3


THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How do you think you played today?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, I think I played okay. I definitely think I could have
played better. But, you know, just a little jitters going out there, having
-- you know, the first round no one wants to go out.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about the first round bye? Do you think that
helps you by giving you an extra day of rest, or does that help the opponent
because they've already gotten out the jitters, gotten used to the conditions?
SERENA WILLIAMS: It definitely helps me. I'm all for byes. I think as a top
player, you know, the top 10 or whatever, you should be able to have a bye
because you work hard. I think you work harder to be at that level.
So I think it helps you at the end of the day, because usually the top
players go farther in the draw.

Q. I heard you have a new clothing line.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, it's clothing and jewelry and handbags. Serena
Williams Signature Statement Collection, which is going to be on HSN. I'm
really excited about it. You guys know I'm really into fashion. I've kind of
always been into the fashion aspect.
You know, to finally be able to reach a different crowd that can reach
millions and millions of people is really cool for me.

Q. Was there a particular person or somebody, something that inspired you?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, the reason I went to HSN that inspired me was because
I have a good friend. Her name is Mindy Grossman, and she was actually with
Nike for a number of years. She put me in the, like, the boots that I wore
and just some fabulous fun, amazing outfits.
So when she went to HSN, it was just almost like a no-brainer. That kind of
totally inspired me to be part of such a wonderful network.

Q. Is your style similar to Venus', then?
SERENA WILLIAMS: We're totally different. Like I'm more -- I call it like
more Hollywood type style and she's more Indie. She's good at styling. She
could put something on and look fabulous, whereas I have to always have
someone pick it out. If not, I will always be on the worst dressed.

Q. We're always trying to figure out who the next American star is gonna be.
Have any of the young players particularly impressed you?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think Alexa played well today. I thought she had a really
good game to watch, a really different game. You don't see that type of
tennis being played too much, since, you know, a few years, or several years.
So, you know, I think she has a really good game. She's really young, so she
has a bright future.

Q. Do you think the situation is as dire as some of us make it out to be, the
handwriting about where American women's tennis is going to be in five and
ten years after you and your sister are gone, or do you think there will be
some players who will emerge?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I definitely think there will be some players who will
emerge. I think it's inevitable. I know there is a few players right now that
are doing well, and hopefully they'll continue to do well.

Q. Where are you with electronic line calling these days?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I mean, I don't mind it. Sometimes it sucks when you know
your ball is out and they challenge it. But other than that, I don't really
use it too much unless I'm sure.
So for me it doesn't really change anything, because if I use electronic line
calls, usually I know if my shot was in or out.

Q. So your batting average is pretty good?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think so. (laughter.) I heard it was pretty good, so...
I'm going to say I heard it was very good.

Q. As somebody who is involved in the game and sort of pointed to as having
been the impetus for bringing it into the game, you're happy that it's here?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I'm really happy it's here. Sometimes you can get some
line calls that are -- could possibly be three feet in and three feet wide
that was in. Like the line call I got a few years ago, so I think it was
best.

Q. Alexa is 19. What do you remember about being 19 and how far you've come
and what you had already accomplished?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I think I had a lot of pressure on me already because
I had won a Grand Slam. I was -- I remember just 19. I won -- at 19, this
time, I had just won Indian Wells. I think that was the last time I played
there. I may or may not have won this tournament. I don't know. And, you
know, I was very impressionable.

End of FastScripts