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Height: 5’9” Weight: “I don’t step on scales.”
When did you realize you’re not built like most athletes?
I was 17, playing in the U.S. Open, and this one lady said, “You need to wear a better bra.” That’s when it clicked for me that I was really curvy. A DD chest is not what you normally see in the locker room.
What do you get the most compliments on?
It’s all about my butt. I like Brazilian cut bikini bottoms in the back. Some people think it’s too small, but I’m like, “Whatever!”
Are you insecure about any areas?
Sometimes my stomach poufs out a little bit, and I feel like my legs aren’t as tight as I like them to be.
How do you feel when you’re photographed on the beach in your bikini?
In the beginning it was weird, but I’m okay with it. I represent ladies who want to be healthy and not starve themselves
She is back and is looking better than she ever has. Yesterday ASAP Sports posted an interview with the star at Wimbledon where she talks about her year away and her comeback. Here are some of the most interesting parts of her completely different interview:
Q. You've come back on the tour after almost a year. Can you give us a sense of your preparation and has it been any different than in previous years?
SERENA WILLIAMS: It's definitely been different this time around. Just pretty much similar preparation, just working out. Just having to work out a little bit harder because I'm starting from zero, whereas before I wasn't starting from zero.
Q. You've been through a lot in your career. You had the 13 slams. You had the No. 1. Was there a point where you said, You know, this just isn't worth it anymore, I can go on with my life, don't have to play tennis anymore, start another career?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, never. I always thought I would want to continue to play. You know, I thought I would play a lot sooner; things didn't work out. But, uhm, you know, I'm never the type to stop. You know, I'll stop when I'm ready, and I'm just not ready. I really thoroughly enjoy being out here.
Q. Did you feel anything last week in terms of you've obviously had some trauma to your lungs and maybe on some medication because of what happened. Did you feel it in your breathing on the court besides rust?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I didn't. That was a blessing. I didn't feel anything after a three hours' match. I felt like the breaks were five seconds long. Every time I sat down, the umpire would call, Time. But I felt like I was able to go through it.
I was fine physically when I got off the court. My mom was so worried about me. I keep telling her I'm okay. She's like, If you feel anything, just stop. Come off the court. I'm like, Mom, the doctor said I would be okay.
So I didn't feel anything. I felt fine and I ran a lot and I felt good. I still feel pretty good.
Q. Are you doing anything differently than in the past in that area of training?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, I have to do things differently 'cause I had to expand my lung capacity, because I lost a little bit of my lung. So I had to expand it and just work on it and do better.
Q. What did the tour miss when it didn't have you playing this last year? What do you think is back when you're back?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I think the tour missed just not having me around. But I really just missed not being around the tour. I missed the ladies in the locker room. I missed laughing. I missed having matches. I missed the tour.
You know, I hope it missed me, but I know I missed the tour.
Q. Was there any particular shot you really missed hitting, that when you came back in practice and hit the first one Serena-like that felt like a serve or a forehand or...
SERENA WILLIAMS: Definitely a serve, but I didn't travel with my serve to Eastbourne, so I hope it came with me. I hope he was in my luggage coming to Wimbledon, because I've missed him (smiling).
But on the practice court in Florida I was serving and I was like, Wow, I feel so good. That's amazing. I was singing that Kanye West song, "Blank" Ridiculous. It's how I felt at the time, like wow. But he didn't. I was just like, Please, come back.
Hopefully I'll have a good serve this week, fortnight.
Q. Looking at the state of women's tennis this year, who do you think are going to be your toughest competitors or challengers in Wimbledon 2011?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Everyone. I'm telling you, everyone's playing so hard. No one wants to go down. You get match point, doesn't matter, you got to really focus. Everyone's playing tough.
Q. When you got seeded, did you know what to expect as far as how they were going to seed you and did you have any problems with where you were seeded?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I didn't know. I don't ask for much. I don't expect much. The only thing I expect is what I can give myself and what I do for myself.
I would have been fine seeded where my ranking is because all my life I've worked extremely hard for everything, and that's not gonna happen. That's not gonna stop today; that's not gonna stop tomorrow. I'm going to continue to work hard. To me, whatever, it doesn't matter.
Q. What have you learned most through your health struggles?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Uhm, I've learned that health is key, and there's nothing better than being healthy. I also learned that, you know, I feel like I have a lot -- you know, things build character in people. Overcoming certain obstacles, overcoming being down match point as opposed to overcoming something else is two totally different things.
Life is too short, so have a drink. I'm just kidding (laughter).
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