US OPEN

August 31, 2022

Serena Williams

New York, New York, USA

On-Court Interview

S. WILLIAMS/A. Kontaveit

7-6, 2-6, 6-2

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: For those of you who weren't here Monday night, you've
got to see it tonight, a special message from a special friend.

Here it is.

OPRAH WINFREY: What is there to say? Years went by in a blink. '98 feels like
yesterday. You've given us so much. All we can do is thank you. Thank you for
making the bright lights brighter and the Big Apple bigger.

Thank you for showing us how to be graceful, powerful, fearless. Thank you
for dressing to the 9s and bringing your dancing shoes. Thank you for turning
Centre Court into Center Stage, for bringing the house down. Thank you for
showing us what it means to come back and for never, ever backing down.

Thank you for changing the face of the game, for inspiring the next
generation. Thank you for thinking outside the lines and encouraging us to
evolve. Thank you for showing us how to love the sport and always loving us
back.

Just know whatever you do next, we'll be watching. With love, all of us.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Come on up, Serena. Simply incredible. You are taking
your time evolving away from tennis.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: What do you say about that?

SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, it's no rush here. I'm loving this crowd. Oh, my
goodness, it's really fantastic. There's still a little left in me. We'll
see, we'll see (smiling).

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: It looks like there was a little more than a little left
in you. You've only played a handful of matches since coming back. You were
off for a year. You just beat the No. 2 player in the world. How did you do
it?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I'm a pretty good player (laughter).

You know, this is what I do best. I love a challenge. I love rising to the
challenge. Yeah, I haven't played many matches, but I've been practicing
really well. In my last few matches, it just wasn't coming together. I'm
like, This isn't me.

The last couple matches here in New York, it's really come together. Maybe I
should have traveled with you all for all those years.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Are you surprising yourself with your level at the moment?

SERENA WILLIAMS: What?

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I know.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I mean, I'm just Serena, you know, so...

You know, honestly after I lost the second set, I thought, Oh, my goodness, I
got to give my best effort because this could be it.

Really I just wanted to just keep trying, see what I could do. Just do my
best. I was just really excited, to be honest.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: It was super exciting for everyone. I want to ask you,
Serena, how are you balancing your emotions with what this tournament, this
US Open, means this year to you with wanting to win and with your competitive
edge?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, yeah, I'm super competitive. Honestly, I'm just
looking at it as a bonus. I don't have anything to prove. I don't have
anything to win. I have absolutely nothing to lose.

Honestly, I never get to play like this since '98 really. Literally, I've had
an X on my back since '99. It's kind of fun.

I really enjoy just coming out and enjoying it. It's been a long time since
I've been able to do that.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: You'll be back in a couple nights for singles. Guess
what, you're going to be back out tomorrow night for doubles with Venus. How
excited are you to step on this court with your big sister?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I'm so excited for doubles. It's like it's been so
long. We got to play again, we got to bring the reunion back.

I'm excited to play with Venus, get some more practice because I could use
the matches (smiling).

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Congratulations, Serena. It was a phenomenal effort,
match. This crowd loves you. They played every point with you. We'll see you
tomorrow night.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes. Thank you. Thank you very much.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports