TENNIS WTA CINCINNATI – 14th of August 2014. S. Williams d. S. Stosur 7-6, 7-6. An interview with Serena Williams
Q. High quality match out there, Serena. No breaks of serve; very few break points. How were you able to pull that out in the breakers?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I really don’t know. She was up in both of the breakers. I think it was just a great match, to be honest. She served unbelievable, and I was like, I can’t lose serve because she’s just serving great.
So, yeah. It was really intense.
Q. Do you think these tests you have been through Stanford and Montreal and here these kind of tight tiebreaker tests, three set tests, good for you before the Open?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think so. I think it’s good. I haven’t had a lot of three set wins this year until this summer. It’s been really good to play such close matches and then come out on top even though I’m defeated and then down. To be able to actually win those are really good.
Q. Taking a more positive attitude in general, do you feel you’re carrying that onto the court with you or still battling some negatives out there?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I definitely feel I’m carrying it out on the court. It’s been great. Like usually I would be upset over today, but I think I did well and she did well. I’m just happy to get through this match.
Q. Following up on that, you have obviously win matches like this. It’s such a game of inches. What’s it like to lose a match like this, as well?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I haven’t lost many matches like this where the player was playing unbelievably well. Usually sometimes when I lose it’s because I’m playing unbelievably bad.
So I think I would be you know, you can’t be too disappointed in yourself if your opponent is just better than you that day or just playing just so good no matter what you do isn’t working.
So, yeah, I think that would have been a different situation.
Q. When you started working with Patrick a couple years ago you guys had a lot of immediate success winning a lot of titles. How has this coaching dynamic changed? It’s been a more disappointing stretch for you this year.
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think it’s been good still. I think it’s been a great we have a great relationship. It’s been a great run. You know, it’s a great challenge. We both love challenges.
You know, it’s great. We want to continue to just keep going.
Q. There is still significant tennis to be played this year, but talking like you’re on a reset for next year. How much of that has put what’s happened behind you, and how much is that to free yourself up so you can take on the rest of the year with less pressure?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think it’s a little bit of both. I feel pretty good about going into the rest of the year. You know, I’m excited about next year. It’s like it’s going to be kind of fun to, you know, go to a tournament and not be defending champion.
So it’s going to be it’s always fun to be defending champion, but it’s always even more fun if you’re not because you can only go forward and only move up. It’s pretty cool.
Q. Speaking of moving forward or going up, do you worry about holding on to No. 1 ranking through the rest of the year? You have a lot of titles coming up: US Open, Beijing, year end Championships. Is that something you’re fretting over or something that if it happens it happens?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, if it happens, it happens. I should have thought about that sooner (laughter). You know, like around French Open time, so…
Q. Would you consider yourself a tennis wonk?
SERENA WILLIAMS: What’s that?
Q. Somebody who like is into the game, watching it, picking it apart. I’m talking about your free time or when you’re done with tennis, the last thing you want to do is watch other players or men’s matches or whatever?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I watch a lot of men’s tennis only because I get jealous if I’m not in the tournament for the ladies. I’m like, Waa, and I’m upset.
But, yeah, I have picked apart the men’s game. I know weaknesses. I know strengths. I’m like, If I play this guy not that I’m ever going to play him I would go to the backhand. This one I’d go to the forehand.
It’s really weird. But, again, it’s only because when I’m not at an event I feel like I’m missing out and I’m angry. So I don’t watch that much of the ladies.
Q. Is there any player in particular? I’d think Roger, but is there anybody you wouldn’t think is obvious you’d like picking apart and maybe take something from him?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I like watching a lot of the new guys. Like Dimitrov. I think he’s really exciting. My favorite to watch hands down is Murray. Hands down my favorite player to watch.
Q. Why is that?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Because he acts like me on the court (laughter).
Q. He was in here earlier in press while you were on court and couldn’t stop watching you.
SERENA WILLIAMS: He’s hands down my favorite.
