TENNIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN – 28th of January 2015. S.Williams d. D.Cibulkova 6-2, 6-2. An interview with Serena Williams
Q. Straightforward win at least by the scoreline. How did you feel about the match?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I feel I played well. I felt I had to. I feel like when you’re going up against a player like that who is confident on the court – she just had a few good matches – I knew that I needed to really play well or go home.
Q. How are you feeling right now? I can hear a little bit of raspiness.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I’ve felt better, but I’m feeling okay. I’m just happy to still be in the tournament. I definitely have a little raspy voice. Hopefully I’ll get better.
Q. Is it a sore throat or achiness?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I’ve been sick the past few days. It’s just getting worse and worse. But hopefully it will start getting better.
Q. Is it a virus? I heard that Lepchenko is in the hospital.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I heard that, too. Just today actually. Yeah, I heard it’s a virus going around with a lot of the players. I think I caught it, so…
Q. You were doing some mystical stuff. What was that?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I’m not involved in mystics or magic, nor have I ever went to Hogwarts. No, every player is quirky and every player has some things that they do.
Q. Can you talk about Keys?
SERENA WILLIAMS: What do you want? She’s playing great. I told her I was really happy that she did well. She’s in the semis. It’s good to see another American, another African American, in the semifinals playing so well. Regardless, there’s going to be an American in the finals, so that is great. It’s also great for me and Venus because we know that finally there’s other Americans that are constantly playing well and playing better, showing that they want to be the world’s greatest.
Q. Is it a relief for you that you don’t to play Venus in the semis?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don’t know. I always root for Venus. At the same time, she’s a very difficult player to play. She beat me the last time we played. It was a really long match. So I don’t know. I mean, I can’t say it’s a relief because Madison has a big serve, a huge forehand. She’s improved leaps and bounds. So it’s going to be a tough match for me.
Q. I know you and Venus don’t talk tennis off the court very much, but will you pick her brain on how to face Madison?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, for sure I’ll ask her. Also ask my coach, who has been steering me these last two weeks. I’m really excited to be in the semis. So I’ll see.
