US OPEN

September 2, 1999

Serena Williams

Q. She was pretty tough, huh? Do you feel like you had to play well to win the match?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Definitely. She was definitely a good player. As everyone's playing these days. No one is kidding and no one's joking anyone. Whenever you play, you have to go out and play.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I really didn't play so well today. I think I made way too many errors. I didn't get enough first serves in. I was pretty erratic, and kind of not playing that great. But... I came out with the big "W."

SERENA WILLIAMS: I wouldn't -- I wouldn't say there's any pressure on either me or Venus. I think that any pressure that's put on either of us, it would definitely be the one that we put on ourselves. I don't think being younger has anything to do with it. It's just about who's playing well and who's not.

SERENA WILLIAMS: You definitely have to do a lot of mental preparation and be really focused and just get real serious. I'm trying to be more mentally focused than what I have been in the past and try and be more serious than what I've been.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I mean I really don't -- that's just her problem. She's always been the type of person that -- she says things, just speaks her mind. I guess it has a little bit to do with not having a formal education. But you just have to somehow just think more, you have to use your brain a little more in the tennis world. She does that well on the court. She's No. 1. She's doing very well. But, I mean, I just don't have anything negative to say about anyone. It just literally does not pay to say anything negative and bad about anyone. So... That's her opinion and she's entitled to her -- everyone is entitled to their own separate opinion. Obviously she's No. 1 so she can say whatever she would like to say. I personally don't think my mouth is big, if you're looking at it. (Laughter.)

SERENA WILLIAMS: I've already been motivated before, just to play the best I can against everyone. So... It doesn't matter. I just go out and play my best, just do the best that I can do.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It's really helped me to realize that tennis isn't everything. There's so much more beyond tennis. You could break a leg any day and you never know what's going to happen. My dad always tries to stress education. I believe education is really important. I just -- I really just do the best I can to go farther -- further my education and my mental development.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I haven't gone to school this summer but I am going to school this fall. But usually I'm always learning new languages. I'm learning Portuguese right now. I'm going to learn Spanish next. I always try to keep my brain focused on something. I don't like to get too much involved with a lot of nonsense. I like to be a little focused a little more.

SERENA WILLIAMS: An art school for fashion design. I'm also going to take psychology classes. Maybe I can help some of you guys. (Laughter)

SERENA WILLIAMS: Both.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It's in, like, it's in the south Florida area, yeah.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes, I do. I was pretty excited when I got my diploma. A lot of people can't say that, but I guess they pursue other things. In a way, I guess it's better for them. For instance like Martina Hingis, she was No. 1 when she was 16. That's something I've never done personally. I still haven't won a Grand Slam and she's won five. She's pursued other things, I'm pursuing education. I'm catching up in tennis, though.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I graduated last year in December. So I graduated a little young. I was working really hard. So I was 17 when I graduated. It was cool.

SERENA WILLIAMS: We're different in a lot of ways. I think I'm a little more outgoing but yet at the same time more introverted than she is. It's a little weird.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Okay, it's -- okay, I'm more outgoing. I would say more to more people. But at the same time, I'm introverted. If we have a conversation, I wouldn't talk as much as Venus would. She's definitely less outgoing. I guess many of you can see that. In a way, she's more extroverted than I am. Capishe (ph)?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Right.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It was a private school, Driftwood Academy, in Florida. A private school.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes, definitely. I think sometimes having a world outside, but then sometimes also if you're too much involved outside, you -- it's too much because you have to realize this is your profession. And you have to take this important -- this foremost because this is what I've done for all my life. I have to realize that. So it's fun. It's important to have fun outside of tennis but it's also important to stay focused in what you're doing. That's why I can only go to school in the fall, because I only play a few tournaments.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I thought she was. Maybe she isn't.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm playing tournaments between that time. I don't know about her. I usually don't play that many tournaments to start out anyway. I don't have that many points to defend this fall. If I can just play a few and go ahead and be serious and take the titles, then that's all I need to do.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I was always able to relate to psychology and physics, kind of in a way. You know, everything in physics is just -- it just relates just to everything, you know, which is kind of weird. I guess -- I don't know. I don't want to get too much into that. I used to love physics, it was great. I really enjoyed the classes. So.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't -- I can't see myself ten years from now in here. But I know Steffi Graf, when she was younger, she said the same thing and she was here ten years later. So I really don't know. I mean right now I can't see it but I'm not going to have a myopic view and say I'm not going to be here because you never know in the future.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Where am I going to be in ten years?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I see myself definitely as a fashion designer, I will probably have a couple clothes -- I'm into wedding dresses as well as a lot of other things. I'm trying to add color to wedding dresses but I'm into other things as well.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I mean pure white, but some trims. I mean with a lavender, even a black and red, burgundy trim around it. I think that will be really nice.

SERENA WILLIAMS: We talked about that. But she already had her dress picked out.

SERENA WILLIAMS: She did? I think Venus likes college more than I. I'm nervous about going. It's been a while since I've been in school. I think she's going to really help me with my classes. Hopefully, we'll be in the same classes and she can really help me out. It's going to be an experience.

SERENA WILLIAMS: It's just in south Florida, just an art school?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Fort Lauderdale. It's in Fort Lauderdale.

SERENA WILLIAMS: I always believe in myself, and of course I'm going to agree that I'm doing the best I can. You cannot underestimate anyone. Venus is playing great. Everyone's playing their best. So my dad has been right all along, all these years. I've been a super riser, I've risen very fast. And I just look forward to just going farther and reaching the top spot and do the best that I can do.

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I didn't. I had to buy some furniture. I'm very disappointed. I wasn't able to get anything.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Thank you.

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