SONY OPEN TENNIS

March 20, 2013

Serena Williams

MIAMI, FLORIDA

THE MODERATOR:  Questions, please.

Q.  You have talked for years about how rankings don't matter to you.  Could
you just speak about like, you know, you're No. 1 again and how does it feel?
 Because it was obvious it meant a lot to you in Doha.
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yes, it feels good to be on top, especially after
everything.  You know, and working so hard and just really not expecting
much, and especially this far in my career, it's exciting to be there again.

Q.  You have an opportunity to make history in Miami by winning your sixth
tournament.  Who is the rival you fear most?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  For me, I just focus on every match that I play, from the
first round to the last.  I don't fear anybody, and I don't like that word
per se.  But I'm cautious of everyone I think is a better way to put it.

Q.  The conditions here are not always the easiest of the tournaments because
it can get really windy.  How much do you really have to adjust your game?
 Is it easy to adjust to these conditions here?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  It's not easy to adjust.  It definitely gets really, really
windy here, but fortunately enough I always have a good week to practice
here.  It was so windy last week I was just really barely able to hit.
I thought the whole time it's good preparation for this tournament.

Q.  What has been your main stimulus to keep working and overcome the
injuries?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  My main what?

Q.  Your main stimulus.
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Oh, I don't know.  I love playing tennis.  I love walking
out on center court, and I love holding up the trophy at the end of the week.
 So that's my goal, just whenever I get down or I'm injured I just think of
that to try to get back and do better.

Q.  How does it feel to be back here in Miami?  It's almost a home tournament
for you and you have had great success in the past.
SERENA WILLIAMS:  It feels great.  For me it is a home tournament.  I live so
close to here, and it always feels good to come here.  I have done pretty
well here in the past, and it's always so many great memories every time I
step out on the court.

Q.  Tell us about the movie, Serena.  Are you happy with this outcome of the
production?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I don't know.  I'm just -- right now I'm just really
focused on this week, and, like, I'm just little brain fried right now.
So, sorry.

Q.  We know all the things you can do really well.  What would be some things
you can't do or don't do well that you would really like to do well?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I would love to sing really well.  I think if I could sing,
I would just be a star.
But I don't sing great.  I don't sing bad, but I don't sing great.

Q.  So you'll keep it at karaoke?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I'm a karaoke singer.  That's as far as I go.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports