U.S. OPEN

September 6, 2013

Serena Williams

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

S. WILLIAMS/N. Li
6-0, 6-3

THE MODERATOR:  Questions, please.

Q.  What do you think makes the difference today?  Either you play too good
or Li Na didn't play at all?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Well, I think I started out really well and I was really
focused.  I think Li Na may have been a little off, but I think it was
because I started out so well and then she may have not played her best.
But I think she played well.  It was, I thought especially towards the end, a
very quality match.

Q.  When you were getting deep into the --when you were in seventh match
point, that eighth game in the second set, seemed like maybe that's the only
time we have seen you at this tournament with maybe a chink in your very
gear.  But then you seemed to rally back in the next one.  Is that about as
far as you felt yourself pushed in this tournament at that point in the
second set?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  No, I think it was definitely all me.  I got tight, which
happens sometimes.  I just needed to relax, and then when I did relax she
played some good points.
But it was a good experience going into the next round that I'll be ready for
-- if I even get a match point, I'll be ready to stay calm and just to stay
focused and relaxed.

Q.  What have you shown yourself about your game and getting to the final
without losing more than four games against anybody and losing only four
games one time in a set?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, I don't know.  I just felt like I have been really
focused.  My practices have been much better than my matches, and I have
really been trying to be focused on the practice court.
Like I said, I set some goals for myself in the match and am really trying to
reach those goals every time.

Q.  What is the toughest part of playing Azarenka, and how has she managed to
win two of the last three matches, both on hard courts, with you?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Um, you know, both matches she played really well.  I let
myself down at opportunities and I didn't take them.  If I'm able to get
another opportunity I have to take them, because she is always pumped and she
does really well.

Q.  She said today that you make her play her best, and she said, I think I
make her play her best, your best.  Do you agree with that assessment?  I
mean, do you play your best tennis when you're facing her?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Um, I definitely feel like when she plays me she plays her
best, by far.  I have seen her play other players, and when I play her I'm
playing a totally different player.  Obviously she brings her best game, yeah.

Q.  How different is the sort of level of intensity between US Open final and
the stages you have faced her already this year, in Cincinnati and Doha?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Different energy, different opportunities.  This is for a
Grand Slam.  I mean, she's trying to win yet another one; I'm trying to win
one myself.
It's just different timing.

Q.  How conscious are you that the mark of 18 major titles and that Sunday
you might just be one away from that?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, I thought about that, but I can't think about that.
 It's still so close but it's still so far.  I have to win against a great
player and I have to play great tennis.
With that being said, I have to do it all over again.  Nothing is guaranteed.
 Only thing that's guaranteed is I can go out there and just try to do my
best, and whatever happens, just learn from whatever experience I get from it.

Q.  What about the potential $1 million bonus?  How conscious are you of that
being at stake Sunday?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Well, last time I had this opportunity I -- it blew up.  It
didn't work out.  I'm trying not to think about it so much.  Money has never
been my motivation with tennis.  I have always just played to win Grand Slams.

Q.  What does it take generally to beat you in a Grand Slam final?  Like what
does a player have to do in order to get the better of you?  Because you are
very good at these stages.
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, I don't know.  I usually, you know, stay positive.  I
usually beat myself when I lose, or for me, there's always something I can do
better.

Q.  Do you feel like the two matches she's won this year you have largely
beat yourself?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  No, I thought she definitely played really well in those
matches.  I mean, she's a great player - and she's young.  She has so much
abilities and she has a lot of drive.
So, yeah, I just have to try to just hang in there.

Q.  The other day you said that Chris Evert, Martina, and Steffi were the
ultimate icons in tennis for you.  Did watching them influence your game at
all?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Well, I watched Steffi and Martina a little bit.  I didn't
get to see so much of Chris.  I know she was a great player.  I definitely
must add Venus on that list at the top of the list, because she definitely
helped me play great faster and a better game faster.
So, yeah.

Q.  But in terms of seeing their games, there weren't things that you took
from watching those previous icons?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I don't think so.  I loved watching Martina Navratilova
growing up.  I don't play anything like her.  I don't do anything like her.
Chris I didn't watch so much.  Steffi, I do nothing like her, as well.  Yeah.

Q.  How much of your preparation for the final is looking at Azarenka's game
and how you want to try to attack her or hurt her as opposed to focusing on
what you want to do about yourself?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Well, I know her game as well as she knows mine.  She knows
what I do great, what I do bad, and what I can do better.
I know the same thing.  At this point, it's just all about just playing some
tennis now.

Q.  I know you said a lot of times before that Azarenka is one of the players
you're friendlier with on tour.  Do you have to actively put that aside next
few days and think of her as someone you're not friendly with?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  No.  That's the great part it about it.  We completely get
along, and once the match is on we are completely opponents.  That's what
it's about.  When the match is over, we completely get along.
We leave everything on the court, play as hard as we can, almost as if we've
never met each other in our lives.

Q.  What's the most exciting aspect for you being in the final again with a
chance to win a fifth Open title?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  It's great.  Just to be able to defend a title for once
would be really awesome.  You know, I have done so well here the past few
times I have played, just getting to the semis or getting to the finals.
You know, it's been really, really exciting, so I'm really happy that I have
been able to just consistently do well here.

Q.  And how do you guard against the nervousness of being in the final and
knowing that if you don't win it it's going to be a tremendous letdown for
you?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Yeah, I can't think like that.  I have to think more or
less -- like just have to be excited about - not focused on anything, just
focused on the game.
What happens happens.  Sport, you just have to take the wins and the losses
and treat those two imposters the same (laughter).

Q.  Does tennis need a great Grand Slam every so often, a great competitive
one?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I don't know.  If I'm in the final, I don't know.  I just
think we had a great final last year, so maybe we can go another decade
without having an excellent final.

Q.  Vika also said that she really relishes pressure.  She feels pressure
brings out the best in her game.  You have obviously had great meetings with
her.  Do you feel the more you push her it raises her level?  And also, what
does that do for your game?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Um, I don't know.  Sometimes I like pressure, to be honest.
 Sometimes I don't.  I'm not going to sit here and make up things and try and
sound fabulous.  Pressure sometimes is tough.  You know, pressure of writing
a paper.  I actually do perform well under pressure, but in that circumstance
when I have a paper due...
You know, I think I have done pretty well with pressure.

Q.  This was a long day for you out on the court.  I noticed even towards the
very end of the match you and Venus were still able to kind of able to share
a laugh or a smile.  I'm wondering, at this point, have you been focused
throughout the whole tournament on tennis, or are you allowing yourself some
space for pleasure outside of the tournament while you're here in NewYork?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  I'm here for the tournament.  I'm here for the tennis.
I have two weeks, two-and-a-half weeks to focus on tennis.  That's what I'm
going to do.  That's what I have been doing.

Q.  About the doubles today, I notice obviously a team you have had a lot of
tough matches against at the Olympics.  What do you think made the difference
in that?
SERENA WILLIAMS:  Well, I think I was a little mentally tired.  I didn't play
well.  Venus usually feeds off my energy.  She didn't do as well as she
usually does.
It was obviously-- you know, we didn't play great.  They took advantage of
our playing miserable.  (laughter).

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