JULIA: Hi Serena. You probably don't remember this, because since then you've been interviewed about 20 million times, but I first interviewed you for Vogue in 1998 in Oklahoma City.
SERENA: You're kidding!
JULIA: No. It was only 12 years ago, but it was like a world away. Martina Hingis was No. 1 – and being pretty bitchy about you guys. People were still questioning your father's coaching methods. And you were playing tournaments in Oklahoma City.
SERENA: Wow.
JULIA: The highlight for me was when I went shopping with you and Venus, and for years afterward I was so happy to see you wearing the gold necklace you bought when we were on our shopping spree on the court. Since then you've come a long, long way, and people barely remember Martina Hingis's name. Part of what you talk about in your new book, On the Line, is that whole trajectory. What made you decide to do the book?
SERENA: Well, life is about timing and it was the right time. I had just become No. 1 in the world again, and I thought what a good book I can write – just a little bit of a memoir and add a little bit of motivation in it as well because, you know, I went from being on top of the world to, literally, the bottom. You know, people writing me off, telling me I'd never be anything, telling me I'd never be No. 1 or win a Grand Slam or any of those things. And then coming back, I thought that I could send a good message to everybody.
JULIA: Yes, absolutely. In Chapter 10 of the book you talk about what has to be one of the lowest parts of your life ever – when your sister got killed in a horrible, violent drive-by shooting at the same time you were dealing with your knee surgery. At one point in the book, you say that the knee surgery and the rehabilitation helped you hide behind the grief. Tell us a little bit about that.
SERENA: Well, you know, the No. 1 player in the world has to go get knee surgery, and then you hide behind the grief because you take all your time and you go to rehab every day and you try to deal with that every day. So you're not necessarily thinking about, or you're trying to block out all the other stuff – more important stuff – that is going on in your mind.
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JULIA: You've always been close to your family – you and Venus were practically finishing each other's sentences when I spent time with you guys way back when. Are you all still very close?
SERENA: We are. Venus and I live together and do a lot of things together. So we really enjoy each other and we try to continue a great relationship.
JULIA: What about your parents?
SERENA: I try to make it a point to talk to them every day. I try to think that tennis is only temporary. I've been so blessed to have such an amazing opportunity, but family is even closer.
JULIA: I know that you've probably been asked this question a thousand times, but when you were first learning to play tennis with your father in Compton, CA, did you ever think you would be No. 1 in the world?
SERENA: Yeah, because my parents told me I would be, and that's what both of us kind of played for – to be No. 1 in the world and to win U.S. Opens. That was the plan. So that's kind of what we always did and I always believed that I would. I think that anything is possible and that it starts with self belief.
JULIA: And that's one of the messages of the book?
SERENA: Yes. Just believe in yourself because sometimes a lot of people won't. And there have been times when a lot of people haven't believed in me.
JULIA: Now that you've proven you can come back, now that you've proven over and over again that when people count you out, it's a silly thing to do, how much longer do you want to stay at it? I mean, you've done it all. You've won every major title. Are you hungry for another kind of life, or are you still ready to hang in there for a while?
SERENA: Right now I enjoy playing tennis and whenever I feel like I don't enjoy it, then that's when I would move on. For me it's all about being happy at what you do and enjoying every moment – and I enjoy it.
JULIA: Still, it's stressful. Of course I've got to ask you about the U.S. Open. I think one reason people reacted to your outburst is because you and Venus have never been like these bratty tennis chicks. When [John] McEnroe would do that, it'd be like, "Oh, yeah, there he goes again." But that's not your M.O. So do you have any regrets over what happened?
SERENA: I think it's important not to regret in life. I think it's important to learn from what you do and, you know, not to have … I think there're more things that I have regrets over in my life.
JULIA: So what did you learn?
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SERENA: Just the importance of relaxing and staying calm. You know, I definitely am very super intense on the court and I always have been. I've never been like Venus; I've never been like a lot of other players where I am really calm. I think that's why a lot of people come out to see me play. They see me screaming, like, "Come on!" or getting mad at myself or just doing whatever. It kind of creates who I am and makes who I am, but there're also limits and there're ways to go about it. There're always ways to go about everything. And so with that being said, you just move on.
JULIA: I was watching the match like most people in the world and I saw you walk over a couple of times and put your arm around Kim Clijsters after it was over. Have you talked to her since?
SERENA: No. She went on to win the tournament and I obviously haven't seen her. But I'm super excited for her. What a comeback.
JULIA: Well, it takes a comeback kid to know another.
SERENA: Uh-huh.
JULIA: So are you going to tour with the book now?
SERENA: We're going to try. You know, I just think that there are so many great messages in it and it's a good story, too – just about me growing up playing tennis, how I got into it and if anyone else out there wants to get into it, it kind of talks about that, too. It's really, really fun stuff.
JULIA: Do you go around and talk to young kids who grew up like you did and try to send that same message?
SERENA: I try to. I go around and I talk to a lot of young kids, and not only in the United States but outside the United States as well. You know, I just feel like there are so many people that I can influence. I can try the best that I can, and let them know that no one is perfect – and they look at me like I'm perfect. I'm like, "No, I'm not. This is what I do, you know?" And I always preach that message.
JULIA: Now I know one of your No. 1 loves in addition to tennis is fashion. Are you still designing?
SERENA: Yes, I'm finishing a collection off this week, just making some changes to some stuff.
JULIA: Tell me your favorite piece in the collection.
SERENA: Well, I have this piece called the Boyfriend Sweater and it's so perfect because I came up with it a year and a half ago, and it came out just now, and what good timing – the "boyfriend" look is in every store right now. It's just perfect timing. I feel so awesome and so blessed … I don't know why I came up with the idea when I did, and it worked out.
JULIA: Any boyfriends of your own?
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SERENA: I always call my racket my boyfriend because we're always together, especially lately.
JULIA: They're certainly less trouble! So right now, you're finishing your collection and you're going to try to tour as much as you can for the book. What's next after that?
SERENA: I'm going to China to play a tournament and then I'm getting ready for the championship. And then I hope to take a couple of days off, or a week off, and relax. And then I get back into it.
JULIA: When you say relax, what do you do to relax?
SERENA: I just stay at home, don't travel, don't work, don't do any media. I just kind of chill, and that's something that I never do.
JULIA: Is there anything special you want people to know about the book? What's the most important thing you're trying to convey?
SERENA: That you can do anything. I mean, people can see my faults in the book and the things I did well. It's a funny read. And, you know, when people put me down I still manage to come up, and I think anyone can do that.
JULIA: That's great. Congratulations on the book. And thank you for calling in to us.
SERENA: Thank you. Let's not wait so long to talk again.
