Day 5 - An interview with Serena Williams - Thursday, May 31, 2007

Q. So what about today's match?

SERENA WILLIAMS: It was weird. I didn't feel like I played my best tennis throughout the whole match. I was kind of struggling out there to get the rhythm. Maybe because I had too many days off.

Q. You getting used to the clay?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I'm really used to the clay. I was just kind of a little bit everywhere today.

Q. What about the next match? Michaella Krajicek?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, she's playing really well, and really tough. I played her in Rome. And I know her game now. She serves really well, so I'm going to definitely have to be ready for her. A feisty, young player, and a motivated player.

Q. The funny thing was she told us you used to be her idol?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, that's nice.

Q. How's that?

SERENA WILLIAMS: That's awesome. I know. That's so sweet. I know the feeling because I loved Monica Seles, so whenever I got a chance to play her, I was just still really excited. And, you know, winning against her was like the ultimate goal. Every time was just so cool.

So I know the feeling. It's just kind of strange to be in the opposite position.

Q. On the other hand, she might be impressed, too much impressed?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I've played her before, and she definitely didn't play like she was impressed; she played like she wanted to win. You know, so it was definitely a tough match.

Q. One of the women out here yesterday hit a 128‑mile‑an‑hour serve. Can you hit 129?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I never tried. I mean, maybe in practice. I'll try.

Q. Did you have a discussion with venus about that serve?

SERENA WILLIAMS: She's incredible. Yeah, I told her I definitely want to play doubles with her at Wimbledon. With that serve, we can't lose.

Q. This is not about the game. I saw you this morning. I know a lot of top players play with one guy, practice with one guy. But you had two guys. Could you just explain to a layman like me why you used two guys to practice with?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, one hits with Venus, and one hit with me. So if they're not hitting with ‑‑ one's not hitting with Venus, I like to hit with both. I traditionally like to hit a lot of two‑against‑ones, because it's like they never miss that way. If one can't get the ball, he's already there to kind of get it back, so...

I hate it sometimes and it's good.

Q. Could you explain why you use David, why he is so good as a training partner for you?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, David Wood is a great player. He's beating me, which is frustrating. So if you can beat me, you can hit with me.

Q. I don't know if you addressed this in the beginning of the press conference, but what happened at the start of the second set there?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I pretty much went crazy. I honestly didn't feel my game at all today. Even in the first set, I was up 6‑0, I felt like I wasn't playing well. And I just wasn't, you know, doing things that I had done before.

So I just wasn't feeling that great going into the first, the second set. I just wasn't doing well. But I was able to come back.

Q. By the end of the match, were you feeling a little better, more rhythm, or were you not feeling out there today?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I was definitely feeling like I had more rhythm at the end of the match. I didn't get a chance to practice as much as I could have where I wanted to for the past few days, so it's been a little frustrating.

Q. Can I just ask you from an Australian point of view. They just put a new surface down in Melbourne. Your thoughts on the new surface and whether you think it's better or worse.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I do well on the surface that it's on right now, but I understand it's going to be similar. To be honest with you, I grew up in the hood, and any court is a good court to me. So I can play on anything.