S. WILLIAMS/Julia Goerges
6-1, 6-1

Q. Nice win today. You and of course your sister are camped out at No. 1 and 2, but there's a big gap after that. Melanie has been struggling some. What are your thoughts about women's tennis in the U.S. and the future?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think we have a lot of potential. Melanie has been struggling, but, you know, that's part of creating a champion is to win some and to lose some. You can't win them all.
She's clearly a good player. So we have her. We're in the finals of Fed Cup without Venus and I, so, you know, obviously doing something right.

Q. And your thinking on Fed Cup? Is that a matter of scheduling? Do you feel that you have any responsibility to the country in terms of getting into the championships? What are your thoughts on that?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, my only responsibility is my two dogs. So I have to make sure they're okay and that I can afford to take care of them. That's the only real responsibility I have.
Obviously I want to do well and want Fed Cup to win. Schedule didn't work out for me. I took like, I don't know, eight, ten weeks off. It was impossible for me to play in February, or the other one, so hopefully I'll be healthy.
It's all about health and me being healthy.

Q. I wanted to ask you to reflect on your trips to Africa. What was the most poignant moment? In your book, you spoke about the slave castle in Ghana. That was an incredible part of your book. What's it like doing the school with the kids and so forth?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, it's amazing. We just opened or second school in two years. That was my goal, is to just create something where I can help someone, you know, be better.
I feel that maybe I was given a talent to be a good tennis player so I can open doors for others. I've kind of really embraced that, and I really enjoy there's nothing like seeing these kids who have less than nothing and have an opportunity to get an education which they would have never had any other way before, and seeing a computer that they've never seen before.
That is what really, to me, really matters. It really just brings a smile, not only on my face, but deep inside, as well.


Q. In a way, does that sort of help you in a way tennis wise just because it invigorates your life and gives you more...
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, when you see these people you think, Wow, I really have a great opportunity. I'm healthy, I'm fit, you know, I'm living, and I have two parents.
You just think of the small things that you have and multiply and, you're like, Wow, I can I have a great opportunity to help others.

Q. You're going to be playing in the NFL stadium in Dallas. You've had quite a few contacts with the NFL, some great, some not so great. Could you talk about your thoughts about the NFL and also the Dolphins?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I'm a massive the ultimate American football fan. You know, I just think it's such a great thing. Yeah, we'll see.
I don't know if that was on the hush hush yet or not. Okay.

Q. I don't know whether you can nail this question or not, but what's the key to a really good manicure? What do you have to focus on there?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, the key to a really good manicure are proper cuticles. Not cutting them, but just pushing them back.

Q. I have a question about tennis, if that's okay.
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I'm not answering questions about tennis today. (laughter.)

Q. I just think when you've finished a game within a hour and dropped two games, what can you learn from that in terms of the kind of form you're in for the rest of the tournament?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I can learn a lot. Like, Okay, what am I doing today? Why are all my matches like this? How can I get them to all be like that?
Those are the questions that I ask and I try to answer.

Q. Talk about you and V being 1 and 2. You did it before a number of years ago, but now these two sisters from one household are the best two athletes in a pretty significant sport. What does that mean?
SERENA WILLIAMS: It's pretty cool. I mean, just to have when I first found out we'll be No. 1 and 2 again it was cool, because some people said we would never be No. 1 and 2 again, and I was like, In your face.
Not only that, but we're doing so well in doubles. We have a couple of checks off that list, too. We're having so much fun at this time of my career, and you know, we just feel good. Feel like, Okay, this is good. We're doing the best we can, and we're enjoying every moment.

Q. Some say doubles distracts you at tournaments, gets you tired here and there. There's another school that says it's really helped you guys. Talk about the impact of doubles on your singles.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, doubles can be distracting if you allow it. You know, if you have three hour matches in doubles, it's definitely not gonna help your singles.
You kind of have to be good and know what you want and be really disciplined and be really fit to play in both events.


(via Roland Garros)

Roland Garros 2010: Serena Williams' 28. May Interview