Q. Serena, you got your game face on there early and pretty much didn't let
up except for a little bit in the second. How well did you play? Talk about
the match.
SERENA WILLIAMS: I played pretty well. Definitely served a little bit better
in today's match than I have in the past. So I played all right.
You know, I let up a little bit too much, but it's kind of hard to stay on
one level for the whole match. But as long as I'm staying near that level,
that's fine.

Q. You looked very focused. You looked like you were ready to kill at times.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, pretty much at this stage of the tournament you have
to be ready to do just about anything.

Q. Did the public help you to feel like that way?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, it's difficult when you're playing a player who the
crowd loves so much and who does so much for the country, and you're playing
her in their country. Then it's like you have to put yourself in a bubble and
pretend as if nothing's around and pretend as if you don't hear anything and
just pretend you're the only person on that court and you're only playing
her. You have to be really focused.

Q. How sweet was it to beat one of the few players who have beaten you over
the last year? How sweet was that to beat Amelie after she had beaten you a
couple weeks ago?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, you know, I don't know. I'm just -- obviously, it was
definitely nice to win, but I like the fact more that I'm able to advance to
the next round of the Grand Slam.

Q. Do you have any feelings like revenge?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't necessarily feel revenge. You know, I didn't play
well in Rome. When I play well, it's hard to beat me.

Q. You're playing Justine in the semifinals. That's another revenge possible.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes, it is (laughter).

Q. Do you have that feeling for that match?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I just feel that I'm gonna have to play well again and stay
focused throughout, because she's playing very well here.
And, you know, I'm here to do the best that I can do. If I stay focused and
do the best that I can do, then I can go a long way in this tournament - and
in my career. I think that's important for me, is just to stay focused and,
you know, not let anything sidetrack me.

Q. What about the match you played against Justine in Charleston?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I didn't play well.

Q. You're wearing a bandage on your wrist. Was something hindering you? Why
did you need to wear that? Was it troubling you in the match?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, it wasn't troubling me too much in the match. I was
just wearing it for prevention.

Q. On the few occasions you lose, do you learn more about your own game or do
you take away something about the opponent? What did you learn, for example,
about Justine when she beat you that will help you on Thursday?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I know how she's gonna play me. I know what to expect,
what I should do, and what I should have done in the last match, and not to
hit so many -- I think I made a few too many errors the last time we played.
I just couldn't get a ball in. I tried lobbing, and the lob went out. It just
wasn't my day that day.
But at the same time, she played really well and she had a good game plan and
she served very well. So I know what I'm gonna have to do in order to go to
the next level.

Q. You've been to this point now in so many Grand Slams, does it ever feel
routine or do you still feel a special moment when it's a semifinal of a Slam?
SERENA WILLIAMS: It doesn't feel routine at all. I feel very pumped up to be
in the semifinal, and I want to go ahead and win a couple more matches here.

Q. It's pretty well-known that the balls are a little softer and fluffing
earlier this year. It was predictable that some people might come up with
some arm injuries in the second week. Was the bandage because you're feeling
a little bit of strain from hitting these balls over the last five rounds?
SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, I didn't know that the balls were fluffier and
softer. I wasn't aware. Growing up, I was just happy to have any balls to hit
with.
It's okay for me. My mom said (to do it for) prevention because Amelie hits
so hard.

Q. Do you think Amelie was on the court really today in her head?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think she might have been a little nervous. I can't say
that I played a great match and she played great, because I think she can
play better. I've seen her play better. It would be unfair for me to sit here
and say she played great. I've seen Amelie play a little bit better. Maybe
she was nervous, but she did the best that she could today. And, you know,
hopefully next year she'll be able to do a little bit better.

Q. When was the last time you came out in a first set like that and were that
focused and really just -- you just looked like you had the eye of the tiger,
so to speak?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I guess it's been a while. Maybe at Wimbledon,
actually, against Amelie Mauresmo at Wimbledon in the semifinals. I was
pretty determined then as well. When you get that far in a tournament, you
definitely want to go to the next level.

Q. Justine played your sister in Australia. She was already impressed before
the match, she told us. What are you going to do to impress her?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't understand the question.

Q. She was impressed by looking at Venus just before the match started, even
before the match started. What are you going to do before the match starts to
impress her?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I'm not gonna do anything to impress her (smiling).

Q. I have a question for tomorrow's daily program. It's kind of a different
subject. We'd like to know what place in the stadium is your favorite place,
and why. Where do you enjoy being in the stadium, if it's in the player's
lounge, on a court, a special court? Why is that?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I love playing on Philippe Chatrier. I think it's
really nice. I love the atmosphere there. So I love getting a match on the
center court.

Q. The last matches were not the best for nearly all the seeds. I mean,
Clijsters was down 6-love. Venus didn't play well. You didn't play as best as
you think you could. First, did Mom do something to get you to hit this kind
of form?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, there just comes a time in everyone, they just have to
stop and just get serious. Usually, the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam is
usually when I put in a new year and I usually say to myself, "I have a
chance to win this tournament. I've gotten this far, maybe I can go another
couple steps."
So at that point, it's just my desire. I think no one can put one -- no one
can say to someone else, you know, "You have to do this. Go, go, go." You
have to say it to yourself so you can be motivated.

Q. Talking about Venus now, we know she didn't get as much practice as she
would have liked. Do you think it would have helped if you both played
doubles to get more practice?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, because she had a stomach strain a couple weeks ago, and
I think it would have put way too much pressure on her to play singles and
doubles at this event. That's why we didn't play.

Q. You say when you're out on court against a crowd who's favoring their home
player, you say you go into a bubble. How do you get into that state? Do you
do any preparation, breathing exercises, a special routine to get into that
mental state?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I look at everything as a learning experience for me in my
career. Fortunately enough, I've had the experience to look at it in a
positive note, to be in situations where they weren't the best, and I've had
to learn to put myself in a bubble - not to hear anything else, just hear the
sound of the ball.
And I've been able to, fortunately, come out positive most times under those
situations, and it's been able to help me.

Q. Two questions. Are you preparing yourself for the Olympic Games in Athens?
That's number one. Number two, will you come to Poland? Venus came and she
said she would talk to you. Maybe you both will come? You're both welcome.
SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm definitely ready to go to Athens and have a chance to
participate in the Olympics. You know, I want to be able to try - try - to
win a gold medal in singles. I mean, I have one, but I would like to try to
win another one.
And also Venus said she had a great reception in Poland and she couldn't
believe all the people that were so positive. So maybe one day I'll make it.

Q. Early on in this match, Amelie was serving at love-2 in the first set, and
deuce. You crushed two straight service returns. Was it at that point that
you knew, "I'm on today, I can hit almost anything that I want to hit today"?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, you know what, I really don't think I felt that I was
hitting that impressive. I mean, my forehand kind of flew on a few shots that
I should have made. At that point, I felt that I was going to do very well
today.
I can't really say I was even thinking about it, because I was so focused. I
can't say I'm thinking, "Oh, I'm hitting so well, woo-hoo." I wasn't thinking
about it at all.

Q. Something completely different. For the first time here in the French Open
there is blood testing. I'd like to know if you have been tested, and how do
you feel about it?
SERENA WILLIAMS: There was also blood testing in Australia. I understand that
there are drugs going on in some sports, maybe a lot of athletics. I,
however, don't like blood testing because I don't like needles and I cry,
ever since I was younger. Because I just -- I just can't stand needles. I
just... It really, really...
Unfortunately, it's a sad point for me, that it had to go this far. But I
just... I don't like needles, that's my personal feel on that. I just don't
like needles. I have a phobia with needles.

Q. You noticed Amelie was nervous. Is it on the serve that you can tell that
most, when she was double-faulting early, or were there other signs you
thought she might be?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, it's hard. It's hard to play when so many expectations
are on your shoulders and she's doing so well. She was playing so well here.
To play a top player on center court, in front of an amazing crowd, almost
everyone wants you to win, it could get a little nerve-wracking. I could
actually tell in warm-up.

Q. Do you feel those expectations at all, sweeping the Slams or anything like
that, that would make you feel that same way?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I never feel pressure. I never put pressure on myself.

Q. I want to know, you are very popular in Brazil - you know why, because you
love the country. I want to know if you're still learning Portuguese, and how
is it? How is your friendship with Guga? One day, are we going to have the
pleasure of your visit in Brazil?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I would love to go to Brazil one day. I had to take
one language at a time, so I'm mastering French and then I'm moving on to
maybe Portuguese or Italian, so I don't know.
I don't know Guga that well. I mean, I always want him to win. I was really
disappointed that he lost yesterday. I was really upset. It's exciting to
watch him play. He just has this ambiance about him that makes him exciting
to watch, I don't know.
I love the Brazilians, they're always so nice to me. Maybe one day I'll be
able to make it as well.

Q. If you get to the final, you're quite certain you won't play your sister.
Is that extra motivation for you?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I'm pretty sure I won't play Venus at this point
(laughing).

Q. Is it extra motivation for family honor or something like that, to win the
tournament?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I guess it could be, but, you know, I would like it to be.
But I've got to win one -- I've got to win a match before I can get to the
final.

Q. If you win the tournament, you'll tie Margaret Court at 35 Grand Slam wins
in a row. What would that mean to you?
SERENA WILLIAMS: It means I could probably pass her if I win one round at
Wimbledon.

Q. Then are you looking to get Steffi and Martina Navratilova, 45?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Six in a row, right?

Q. Total matches is 45.
SERENA WILLIAMS: It was 45.

Q. 45 match wins.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Okay, I heard that the most consecutive Grand Slams was six
in a row.

Q. Yeah, but total matches, it's 45.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I didn't know this stuff. I'm not thinking about it.
Everybody's playing well. I have to beat Justine to get there and, you know,
she's playing well. It's gonna be tough for me. And then the final.
But once -- if - if - I can do that - hopefully, I will - and if I can do it,
I think maybe I have a chance of passing Margaret Court for sure, because I
think I'll get past hopefully the first round at Wimbledon.