TENNIS WIMBLEDON 2014 – 21st of June: Pre-tournament interview with Serena Williams
Q. How much are you prepared for Wimbledon this year physically and mentally?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think both I’m really prepared for and really excited to be here.
Q. Can you tell us what you’ve been doing since the French Open?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I’ve been doing just a lot of training, just working out, trying to get ready for the next event, which so happened to be Wimbledon.
Q. When did you arrive here?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I got here on Sunday. So, yeah, almost a week.
Q. Were you practicing back in Florida before that?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes.
Q. With your father?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes.
Q. Serena, when you lose early in a tournament, do you watch the tennis after that or do you divorce yourself from it?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I didn’t watch this one in particular, but usually I do watch, enjoy tennis.
Q. How about the World Cup? To what degree have you been watching, and what are your thoughts on the U.S. team’s progress?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I watch a match, at least one or two games every day. Excited for the U.S. Obviously I’m rooting for the U.S. We were finally able to beat Ghana, so that was really good.
Q. Can I ask you what you make of Matosevic’s comments where he says he doesn’t rate the women’s game? And would you like to play him in a match?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, I didn’t read his comments. I’m okay. I don’t want to play anybody. Just females, please.
Q. A bunch of pictures coming out of you and Caroline in Miami in various leopard prints. Talk about your time there.
SERENA WILLIAMS: I love Caro. We have a great time together. Obviously she was in Miami, so we kind of hooked up and we hung out.
You know, she was just trying to be a positive influence in her life.
Q. There’s a lot of debate about Andy Murray’s appointment of Amélie Mauresmo at his coach. What is your take on it? Are you glad to see it or are you surprised by it?
SERENA WILLIAMS: It doesn’t bother me one way or the other. I think Andy Murray can make any decision he chooses. I think Amélie Mauresmo was a former Wimbledon champion, a former No. 1, and I know she’s won more than one Grand Slam.
So that’s his choice.
Q. A lot of people thought you might be given the first spot on Tuesday. With Bartoli not defending and you were the previous year’s winner, it went to Lisicki instead. Wondering your reaction to that.
SERENA WILLIAMS: She was in the final last year, so she was two sets closer than I was. So why not?
For me, you have to be ready to play on any day.
Q. Your French Open defeat, how long did it take you to get over that?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Who says I was over it (smiling)?
Q. Are you not over it then?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I doubt it. Knowing me, no.
Q. There’s a whole new generation of young women coming through. Do you see them as a particularly talented group? That whole generation, do you see them as an exciting prospect for women’s tennis?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think so. I think the young ladies have really stepped up their game and really want to prove that they can be great. Will be great. They are great.
They are the future of tennis. I think, in particular, all the Americans, obviously I have an interest in. So I would like to see them do really well.
