Q. You spoiled the all‑Russian party.
SERENA WILLIAMS: You were expecting an all‑Russian final? Who was expecting that?
Q. How would you describe the heat?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Like I said, it was really an out‑of‑body experience. Like I felt I was watching someone play in a blue dress, and it wasn't me, because it was so hot out there. And I kept trying to tell myself that it's not hot, you know.
But it got hotter, so... Or is it "more hot"?
Q. Playing Elena next.
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think she's playing amazing. I think she's actually playing some of the best tennis on the tour. She's really stepped up the level of her game to an unbelievable level. I'm going to have to play really well to do well tomorrow.
Q. What are you going to have to do differently against her? You've lost the last three times you played her.
SERENA WILLIAMS: A couple times I gave her the match. But the last time she played really well.
I'm just going to have to, you know, just play my game.
Q. When your opponent is serving for the match, can you give us an idea what you're thinking at that point? Do you think she's going to be nervous? What are you feeling?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I was thinking, Okay, if you lose, you're going to fly coach all the way back to Florida (laughter), how uncomfortable that would be. That motivated me to do a little better.
Q. Do you fly coach?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I do. I mean, gosh, prices have soared nowadays. I told you, I'm really economic. I wouldn't necessarily want to go back 16 hours. I wouldn't allow myself to have the emergency row either. I would be so mad, I would have to sit like the last row, the tightest row. That way I wouldn't do it again.
Q. Are you mentally strong because you're fascinated by punk rock music?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No. But it helps, I guess, me have a punk rock attitude. I don't know.
