TENNIS WIMBLEDON 2014 – 26th of June. S. Williams d. C. Scheepers 6-1, 6-1. An interview with Serena Williams
Q. How do you feel about your form at this moment in time?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I feel okay. You know, I don’t want to feel great necessarily right now because hopefully I have several more matches I can play.
But the goal for me is just to feel a little better every day.
Q. You played doubles last night that ended quite late. No aftereffects?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, not at all. I didn’t sleep well yesterday. But I think I was just ready for my match. Didn’t get home until really late, so… But it was okay.
Q. That was a great result for you and Venus coming back?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, we were finally able to win a match. We were excited.
Yeah, we haven’t played a lot of doubles in recent years, since the Olympics actually. So we’re really happy to be playing again.
Q. You got up close and personal with a spectator.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, no, I was running and I couldn’t stop. Had some lovely gents that was able to break my fall, so it was really nice.
Q. You spoke the other day about how closely you’re following the U.S. and the World Cup. What are your plans for watching the game against Germany and what are your expectations?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, exactly. Once I get out of here I’m going to go home and, you know, sit down on the couch and just get to watch and, Go USA. I’m sure there’s a few German people, including my hitting partner, that will disagree with that.
But it’s fun. I’m supporting the U.S. men all the way. I’m really excited.
Q. Do you enjoy playing a player that’s beat you in the past?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I do. It represents a new challenge for me. It makes me realize, Okay, I have to work hard if I want to be able to get a win.
Q. Last year you talked about how you missed having your sister around in the house, how you stayed in the small room. You missed seeing her dancing in the morning. What’s it like in the house right now?
SERENA WILLIAMS: It’s good. It’s like it’s back to where it should be. We’re both here, we’re both playing opposite days. I know tonight I’m really quiet. I try to just walk around really lightly. She does the same thing for me.
Last night she was really quiet, went straight to her room. It just feels really good to have someone that you’re really close to, that knows what you’re going through.
Q. One of the things that some Americans have said they have a hard time with in soccer is matches can end in ties. Can you imagine a tennis match ending in a tie, what your emotions would be after that?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I never thought of it. I don’t know. It’s just not a possibility, not only for tennis but just in general for most American sports. It’s not a possibility, so…
Yeah, I wouldn’t know how I would feel. It would be weird
Q. When the U.S. tied Portugal, how did you feel?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I was devastated. But there’s always paper, rock, scissors to break a tie. That’s how I always break ties.
Q. In Dubai you said that the back wasn’t a problem in that match. Would you say that you’re feeling healthier and more fit now than then?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, absolutely. I definitely feel a lot better, yeah.
Q. You often talk about what a big fan you are of Rafael Nadal. You’re both such warriors on the court. Do you think he would be the ultimate doubles partner for you?
SERENA WILLIAMS: There’s so many good doubles players out there. Especially the way I performed in doubles yesterday, I definitely need to go with a doubles specialist that can kind of hold me up a little bit because I didn’t play so well.
Q. Novak was in here yesterday saying he felt there weren’t many personalities left in tennis. Do you feel that’s the same in the women’s game? Do you have to express your personality? Is that important?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I just think the longer these interviews go, I mean, maybe that’s why at Wimbledon they have them long, because you get to see more of a person’s personality, like the realness start creeping in.
I don’t know. Yeah, this is getting b#b# I can’t answer that question. See, the questions change from tennis to Novak and then Rafa. It’s no longer about the match.
