S. WILLIAMS/V. WILLIAMS
6-4, 3-6, 6-3

An interview with:
SERENA WILLIAMS


THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Got to be a pretty good feeling. You probably feel like you got over the big
mountain in the semis and sort of come what may in the final.
SERENA WILLIAMS: And come apart. Pardon?

Q. Come what may in the final.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, yeah, definitely feels good to get over that. Absolutely.

Q. Talk about the match a little bit today. She gave you a lot of
opportunities, breakpoints and stuff.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I've got to work on my breakpoint opportunities a little
more. I had so many. Yeah, I think it could have been a different score.
You know, she's always hitting big serves and, you know, playing really well.
When she's down breakpoints, I think that's when she plays her best tennis.

Q. How does it feel to even things up in the all -- time series? Is that
something you knew about or care about?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I definitely knew about it. It's definitely good to even it
up. I would love to be in the lead again.

Q. She helped you keep your No. 1 ranking. Can you talk about that. Are you
going to buy her a present?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No. I'm excited because I was thinking that I would love to
remain No. 1, so obviously I was really excited about that.
Then I thought, Ah. I mean, I think I was more happy about that than winning
the match at the end.

Q. Dinara doesn't have your credentials. How would it feel about to
relinquishing the No. 1 ranking to somebody who -- what are your feelings on
that?
SERENA WILLIAMS: (Laughter.) Well, I mean, she's really a good girl and she
is a nice person. You know, I just have the utmost respect for not only her,
but everyone on this tour. I just think it's crazy that I can just be so
consistent throughout the year and last year and barely be No. 1.
I mean, winning two of the last four Grand Slams and getting into the finals
of three of the last four. I just -- I can't compute it. I mean, it's just
psycho really.

Q. Seems like somebody who hasn't won a Grand Slam, how do they get there?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I mean, she's been consistent. I don't know. It's just, you
know, she's done well in the Grand Slams, and she's been working really hard.
You can see her improvements. You got to respect that. Like I said, I think I
have the utmost respect for her. You can see her body even changed she's worked
so hard. But, you know, I think -- I feel like I have actually -- I don't feel
like, I actually have won the past few Grand Slams and been to the finals of
the last three or whatever. So I feel like I shouldn't be in that competition
of being able to stay No. 1.

Q. You had an abbreviated outing with Victoria in Australia. Can you talk a
little bit about that matchup.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, she's playing well. She played me well and really,
really tough in Australia. I thought that she played -- I mean, she was not
feeling great, but I thought she did a pretty good job.
I didn't serve well. I just remember I didn't serve well that day at all.
Hopefully I can serve a little better.

Q. Is there a reason behind it, or a common thread in the success that you've
had in this venue?
SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, there's no reason. I don't know. I just kind of am
doing my thing, I guess.

Q. Do you think you have a decided advantage on this surface over other
surfaces when you play Venus?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I think I have a good advantage on grass as
well, even though I didn't win the last time on grass. I might have won the
time -- I don't know when the last time I won. Because that surface well
suits my game because it's super fast, and obviously hardcourt suits my game,
as well. You know, I don't remember. I don't remember how many times I played
her on clay.

Q. What did you say to Venus at the net when you patted her on the back?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't remember.

Q. You could break your tie with Steffi here and win six. You would be even
with Andre.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Even with Andre? That would be cool. It's hard to get records
in women's tennis because there were so many greats before me. So that would
be kind of cool. I feel like if it doesn't happen tomorrow I have several more
opportunities to do it, so I'm good. Well, not tomorrow. Saturday. Well,
tomorrow.

Q. Talk about the stretch that you had getting here. It hasn't been easy.
Playing your sister, you kind of know she's not going to give up. You got up
early. Is it a little different when you play her because you know she's not
going to give up and keep coming at you?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, Venus never gives up. She gets a lot of balls back and
has a massive serve. Just when you get her down she get an extra umph and
plays extra hard. You can't lose focus at all, especially when you're up. You
have to actually play better when you're in the lead.

Q. Is that something that's easy for you because you know her?
SERENA WILLIAMS: It never gets easy. I always say she's the toughest player I
think on the tour. Besides me, of course.

Q. I wanted to ask you about the three Chinese players you played against.
Looking back on them, you're in a unique position playing three straight.
Which one of them were you most impressed with, and the general impressions
of them?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I was impressed with them all. I thought they all brought
totally different games. I think that's pretty impressive to have three
Chinese players playing three totally different styles.

Q. You mentioned your mood yesterday. Was your mood different today, or
were you inherently more motivated because it was your sister?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I was in a better mood today. Hopefully I'll be in a good mood
tomorrow.

Q. Are you a better player than her right now?
SERENA WILLIAMS: If I say no, then it'll show the lack of confidence in me.
If I say yes, would it sound like I'm pontificating?

Q. Have you ever heard of a 12-year-old tennis player names Alexis Jones?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I haven't.

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