AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 19, 2019

Serena Williams

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

S. WILLIAMS/D. Yamstreska

6-2, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Tell us what you said to her at the net. And when did you notice she was
really upset?
SERENA WILLIAMS: As she was walking towards the net, I could tell she was
quite upset. I kind of liked that. It shows she wasn't just there to play a
good match, she was there to win. She wanted to win. That really broke my
heart.

I think she's a good talent. It's good to see that attitude.

Q. You said some pretty powerful things about Billie Jean King after the
match. What do you think the things are that are left for women's tennis to
do to try to ensure greater parity and equality for women? Do you see
yourself increasingly taking a role in pressing for those things?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, well, we still are fighting for equal prize money at
all events across the board. I think that's something that we're going to
continue to do, continue to fight for.

I feel like with my platform, the things I do, the different boards that I
sit on, we really talk about equality, gender equality, role equality, pay
equality, how important that is. Bringing that into tennis, as well, is
something that's super important.

The only way to do it is to talk about it and to be open about it, have these
conversations that aren't necessarily comfortable. As I always say, we have
to have these uncomfortable conversations so we can start just fighting for
having equality throughout.

Q. Maria Sharapova on that point said the other day she never felt much
warmth from the men's side. She talked about Andy Murray, how he stood up for
things. Do you think the ATP guys could help by being more vocal? How much
will Murray be missed?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think Andy has been really vocal about everyone being
treated equally. Like I said the other day, in order for change to really be
made, men and women have to work together, they have to have the same
message, they have to support each other.

As many people as we can get to support us, that's what it's going to take.

Q. At the start of your pro career, did your teenage self ever cry after a
loss at the net?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Teenage self or adult self?

Q. Teenage self.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, both (smiling).

Q. Did you ever find yourself having that kind of reaction like she did as a
youngster?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, absolutely. You go out there and you want to win. I
remember one time in particular against Venus at Wimbledon, as I was walking
to the net, I started bawling. I couldn't help it. Young girls, young women,
just want to go out there and do their best and want to win.

Q. Do you remember what Venus said to you then?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No. It was a really long time ago.

Q. Your opponent after the match said you spoke to her in the changing room.
She was saying you had been criticizing the umpire a little bit in there
about a time violation. Could you clarify to us?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I was criticizing what?

Q. The umpire about a time violation.
SERENA WILLIAMS: I would look into it as well. I don't know, but I thought --
I didn't think she deserved the time violation. I thought that the umpire has
to wait until the crowd stops clapping before announcing the score. I felt
just to keep the match going he was announcing it really fast, which is fine,
which is normal, but maybe she wasn't used to that.

I told her to definitely look into it so she knows going into the future what
to expect, so she knows the rules. I think it's important for young players
to know the rules so they can always be educated for that. I told her I would
look into it, as well.

It's important to us to have each other's back, to just support each other. I
think that's so important. That's it. I wanted to clarify it with her.

Q. You either get the world No. 1 or your sister in the next round. Do you go
home and watch that match tonight? If you're to play Venus again, how do you
approach it?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, either way it will be a really intense match. I'm
looking forward to it. There's nothing I can do. I did everything I could
today. Just have to keep going.

Q. There's a 17-year-old American that's made a big splash here. Do you know
much about Amanda?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I've been watching her game since last year. I thought
she did really well at Indian Wells. That's when I kind of noticed her. I'm
really excited to see American both men and women start to do well really,
see this new generation of American players make a loud splash, a loud noise.

It's good to see Amanda. She's so serious. I love it.

Q. You are edging closer to Margaret Court's all-time Grand Slam record. Does
that creep into the back of your mind at all?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I've been edging closer for probably like a decade now. I'm
not even dealing with that right now.

Q. If it is Venus that you play, how do you go about the match? Do you talk
in the buildup?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, we're really close. She's even closer to Olympia.
She's more than an aunt, but she's not the mom. She's, like, the stage after
that. I don't know. She's, like, so close to being there with my daughter, so
we talk all the time, spend a ton of time together. She always is like,
Well... She gives me tips and stuff.

We'll definitely be talking, take it as it is. Take it one step at the same
time.

Q. If you play Halep, will this prove where your game is it, playing the No.
1?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, and I honestly would love to face the world No. 1. At
the same time I would love for Venus to win. I think either way, regardless,
I'll be ready for either opponent.

Yeah, it will be great. I haven't played the world No. 1 since I've been
back, I don't think. So, yeah, it will be good.

Q. Last year in Paris I asked about the Armenian influence in your life. You
said you're planning to go there. Have you learned any new stuff about
Armenia, that side?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm learning a little bit every day. Well, not every day,
that's not true. I'm learning a little bit as time goes on.

Yesterday Alexis was talking about how Armenians are, the culture, lots of
self made, a lot of business people. They have this aspect. It's fun. It's
interesting.

Like I said, I feel like I'm an honorary Armenian because of my husband and
daughter. Everyone that I see that is Armenian is super proud of me. It's
like, Wow, this is kind of cool.

It's really always good to learn new and different cultures.

Q. On the equality thing again. There's a big men's team competition they're
preparing for in January next year. It's possible the Hopman Cup might get
swallowed up or end because of that. Is that a bit of another symptom that
maybe the priorities are a little bit skewed?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm going to apologize. I should know about this, but I
don't know about this to comment on it. I've heard a lot about it, but I
don't really know the details of it, so...

Q. Do you already feel on top of your game or does your break affect your
game in any way?
SERENA WILLIAMS: My?

Q. Does the break affect your game in any way?
SERENA WILLIAMS: The break, okay.

I haven't played a lot since New York. But it is what it is. I'm here. I've
trained in the off-season. You know, at this point I'm here. I'm here to play
tennis, do what I do best. I play tennis best, so that's what I'm here to do.

Q. Do you feel on top of your game again?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think I'm getting there. I don't feel like I'm there yet.
I feel like I'm still getting there.

Q. Do you think in a counterintuitive way that missing over a year to have
your daughter has kept you in the game? Do you think you'd still be playing
here right now otherwise?
SERENA WILLIAMS: It's very hard to say. But I feel like a part of that is
absolutely true. Kind of the time off gave me a new fire, a new purpose, a
new meaning. Again, it is kind of hard to say.

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