November 6, 2008


Serena Williams

DOHA, QATAR

V. WILLIAMS/S. Williams
5-7, 6-1, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. It's probably not an easy situation for you, but can you just tell us your
thoughts and feelings about the match?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I just couldn't keep a ball in play. I couldn't keep more
than two balls over the net, and I had an error. So I couldn't serve today,
so, that's pretty much my thoughts about the match.

Q. Any idea how and why that happened?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I've been, you know, practicing and training and I don't
know. It was just, I don't know -- just everything was off.

Q. Doesn't happen very often for you, not like that?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't think I've ever played like that. I mean, I've never
been in a situation where I just feel like I can't do anything, whether --
usually if I'm not serving well, I can hit a backhand.
Today I couldn't serve, I couldn't hit a backhand, I couldn't hit a forehand,
I couldn't even volley. So it was just -- it was like very frustrating out
there.

Q. Sort of came on halfway through the match, really, didn't it? I mean the
first set was okay.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, it was okay. I wasn't playing my best in the first
set, but at least I was able to get some serves in. But I don't know after
that it just kind of fell apart.

Q. And it's difficult to give a physical or psychological or any other kind
of reason for it?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, there is -- I don't know. If you know, maybe you can
tell me. But I don't know. I don't know why. This is definitely the worst
match I've played this year by far. I didn't even look like a Top 8 player
today. Maybe top 600 in the Juniors (smiling).

Q. The first game of the third set was a really long game. It seemed like
that was pivotal as far as momentum was concerned and it seems you got a
little down after that?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I didn't get down. I thought she served well. Every time
I had a breakpoint she either hit an ace or a service winner, so... And, you
know, I thought okay. I'll just hold. That obviously didn't happen.

Q. So that wasn't -- that was a particularly critical game?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think it was definitely a critical game. If I could have
won that game, I would have won that game, I don't know what would have
happened. But at that point, I was, I don't know. It was just terrible,
terrible, terrible tennis.

Q. Actually thought the last game was great. There were some great points in
that game. Were you feeling different? I mean, obviously a bit late. But
seemed to be spectacular tennis?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I was just trying to hold serve. I never played a match
where I could hold serve. I don't know, whatever. I'm over it.

Q. Still feel you'll be all right to qualify?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I hope. I have to win another match. Hopefully, I can win.
If not, we'll see. I mean, if I play like I did today, I definitely won't
win. I'll definitely be out of the event, so...

Q. Just on another subject, I reads that you were planning a trip to Africa
for some activities. Is that true? Is there anything you can tell us about
that plan?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I'm going to Africa Monday, or something like that.
Yeah, Monday morning to -- I'm going to a couple different schools. One in
South Africa, it's a good-will trip again.
Like I said, I love getting involved in philanthropy, and I'm going with one
of my sponsors, HP. And we're going to donate computers to the school in
Africa, in South Africa. And then we're going to go to Kenya and donate some
computers to a school there.
It will be good for these kids to have an opportunity to learn to use a
computer, especially one like an HP computer, and get in touch kind of with
the rest of the world. Kind of see how everything else is going in the world.
So regardless to what happens here, I'm excited about going to Africa. I just
can't wait for that trip, and to get a chance to help children over there,
yeah.

Q. When you play your sister, what do you think of?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think of trying to win.

Q. Yeah, what about your techniques? Does it help you when you -- I mean,
this is your 18th match with her, with Venus. Does it help you when you know
her techniques or anything?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, it definitely helps, but I still have to be able to
play.

Q. What qualities do you think you need now and how do you think you can pick
yourself up?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I didn't hear the last part of the question?

Q. What qualities do you actually need now, do you think you'll need to pick
yourself back up?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Just a shot of confidence. I'm going to see a doctor maybe.