Serena Williams is a perfectionist and problem solver on court.

Video: Serena's Stellar Sliding, Skidding Slice Backhand Pass

So when the world No. 1 lost a second-set lead and found herself locked in a third-set battle with Simona Halep, Williams wasted no time on pleasantries to pump herself up.

Instead, the top-seed gave herself some blunt advice.

Watch the seven-time Miami Open champion seems to exhort herself to "hit the f---ing ball" here:



The candid self-coaching worked.

Williams, who struggled with her forehand at times, eventually tamed her wayward shots and the world No. 3, posting a 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 victory.

While she's eager to take a shot at her eighth Miami title facing Carla Suarez Navarro in the final, Serena said she's been frustrated by her serving struggles.

"I'm just not at my best level right now and it's a little frustrating," Williams said in her post-match press conference. "I'm not serving well. I am serving at 40 percent. So it hasn't been my best of times. So that's just the only frustrating part. And I'm a perfectionist so if I don't get it right I just want to keep trying."


Video credit: Sluggahjells2
Photo credit: Christopher Levy (@tennis_shots)