FEDCUP WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS: SWEDEN v USA

April 21, 2013

Serena Williams

DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA

S. WILLIAMS/S. Arvidsson
6-2, 6-1

THE MODERATOR:  Questions for Serena.

Q.  How did you feel out there today?  Seemed the only thing that really
bothered you was the sun on that one side.  Your serve was really amazing
today?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, I felt okay out there.  The sun was intense, but it
was okay.  Got through it.

Q.  You seemed to have your wardrobe mixed up.  Last night, sleeveless;
today, one sleeve.  A little confused?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  No.  It was really hot and I didn't want-- I always wear
long sleeves, but that's why, because it's cool.  It has this cooling
technology in the top, so it was pretty cool.

Q.  Just talk a little bit about the match and playing her.  Outside of that
one game where she had the three break points on your serve, you didn't seem
to give her an opportunity to get into the match.
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Both games like that are really important.  If she had won
that game, would have been a tougher score or a different match.
It was important for me to stay focused and win that game and fight for every
point.
Yeah, that one was tough, but I was just going for everything.

Q.  Were you surprised that your sister is playing now?  You seemed on court
like it was a total shock to you.
SERENA WILLIAMS:  You know, she's doing good.  She's playing.  The team
discussed it a little bit, but that's Mary Joe's decision.
Venus is a veteran and a great player.  I hope she does really well.

Q.  I know that in regular competition you don't use coaching.  This is a
different kind of competition.  How do you feel when you have that kind of
resource?  Is it good for you or you think that...
SERENA WILLIAMS:  It feels good.  Mary Joe is there the whole time, so it's
different than when you do call your coach on court.
But like I say, I just take everything in.  I just try to be like a sponge
and listen to what anyone has to say.  I'm trying.

Q.  I know you talked about this a little bit earlier in the week, but fresh
off those two wins, talk about the extra satisfaction you get winning when
that flag is on your chest there, playing and representing your country?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Well, it always feel good to play for your country and to
win.  Today is another tough match for us, so we're all a little bit nervous.
But it feels good to come out here, especially in the country.

Q.  If you look ahead a little bit, I know Paris is somewhat of a home for
you - or a second or third home - and the French Open is a place where you
have had success but not the same amount of success as you have at the other
Grand Slams.  Talk about going towards that and your thoughts on this year's
French.
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I'm not thinking about it yet.  I can't.  I thought about
it so much last year, and I'm just like, Okay, I won Madrid last year, so
hopefully I can do well and win Madrid again.  If not, at least win some
matches.
Then Rome.  That's all I can think about right now.

Q.  So Madrid will be your first?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, I'm playing Madrid first.

Q.  Just wonder if you had any trouble with your ankle?  You had a tape job
early on.
SERENA WILLIAMS:  No, it was fine.  The court was really hot out there.  It's
cooled down a lot, but it was really hot.  I wand to make sure thatI had --
my feet were really hot.  I just had to loosen up the tape.  That was it.

Q.  Chris Evert was here.  They were giving her an award because back then
they didn't give the little Fed Cup, and she has quite a history.  Do you
take notice when somebody of her stature is out there watching your match?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I didn't know she was here.  I'm glad I didn't.  I would
have been like, Oh, am I playing good enough?  She's been so great for
American tennis.  She's one of the best players to ever live.  I didn't know
she was here.
Thank you.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports