important, especially in my game. you know, to go out with the understanding that i was-- i could stay here all day, maybe you don't want to but i will be here until 2:00 in the morning, i have nothing else to do. >> that's exactly right. >> rose: champions of the u.s. open next. funding for charlie rose was provided by the following: is. >> rose: additional funding provided by these funders. and by bloomberg, a provider of multimedia news and information services worldwide. from our studios in new york city, this is charlie rose. it is the adulation, especially new new york, i mean this was your town, and the u.s. open was your major. it's lard to give that up? >> oh, it's the worst. you know-- . >> rose: hard does not describe it. >> it doesn't-- you know, and i think a lot of things that happened to me when i walked away from tennis was because of that. once i walked away-- i think a lot of that -- >> missed all of that. >> missed all of that, the performing in front of-- . >> rose: you missed this. >> i do miss that, that, being able to do that, and you know, i lost that forum to be able to perform. and the missing of the adulation and so forth, it's tough to walk away from. >> rose: i think that would be the enoughest-- toughest thing to be really good at something in which there is, when are you relatively young, it's over as an athlete. i mean as an athlete that part of it i mean to be center stage, i mean tennis or boxing or, you know, or something where it is so intense there, everybody can see. >> right. >> golf and-- you know, center stage, 18th hole of the masters, the u.s. open. >> there's no forum like it. >> rose: it's an exhilaration. >> you can hear you breathing. >> right. >> rose: you can hear every sort of calibration of everything that is going through your -- >> when is the next tournament, let's go play. i mean it just draws me-- . >> rose: there is no high like that, is there? >> that's exactly right. and i think because of that, losing that i had to try to find some way to replace that. and it just wasn't there. will never, ever be there. >> rose: how much of your success was about will? i mean obviously a lot is about talent. but how much of it is the mental go get them, jimmy. >> that's it that was it for meet. you know, everybody plays good tennis. but it's what you bring over and above that that, you know, i think was very important, especially in my game. you know, to go out with the understanding it that i was-- i could stay there all day. maybe you don't want to but i will be here at 2:00 in the morning, will never bother me. i have nothing else to do. >> exactly. >> let's get to it. >> that's exactly right. let me talk about people you played then, just some analysis. what made mcenroe great? >> i think it's whole makeup made him great. and i say that with-- with interest as well as-- only because without his attitude i wonder if his expertise and the way he played and his whole. >> rose: natural ability. >> natural ability would have been there. and his attitude was what really created what he had to offer. but his game was so spectacular with his feel and his touch and the way he went about playing his game. you got to remember that nobody really saw anybody like that since nastase with that kind of touch and flare and genius with a racket in their hand. you about bjorg who played a different style, i played a different style-- played a different style, and then all of a sudden this young kid comes up with the feel and the touch of a nastase which was a long time ago. >> rose: it's amazing when you watch him do that. it was almost like it was with feather when he was dealing with the ball. why is that so rare, i guess is my question? people told me your game was so good in terms of hitting such a flat, hardball and so certain that it would go in and be placed where you wanted it to. and you were everywhere. but there was a touch that was different. and you don't see t and you talk about nastase and mcenroe, there's nobody playing today that plays the way he did. >> i didn't think there will be anybody to play the way he did in a long time to come either. that's something that you find only on occasion. >> rose: how good was jimmy. >> jimmy was incredible, you know. i love people that have a lot of effort. that ultimately respect are the guys like nadal, guys like michael chang. >> rose: like conners. >> exactly. i mean any time i played conner, no matter how hard i was trying i would look over the other side of the net and i saw a game that seemed to be or was trying harder than me. and i was like this son of a bitch is trying harder than me every single point. but i know it made me a lot better player. i had to try harder. and he was so intense, everything was life or death. and then he would manage, which i never z see i would manage to have the greatest round of applause before a match, it would be unbelievable. mcenroe, yeah. by the end of the match everybody is booing me. i'm like that's quite a quality, john. >> rose: take a look at this, this is jimmy conners on this show recently, here it is. >> we had something special, charlie. i mean we had a rivalry that in my heart meant something. >> rose: what did it mean? >> well, everything. because we were so-- so alike in a lot of ways. and i always wanted to know-- . >> rose: you mean brash and cocky. >> left-handed, you know, from the u.s., same attitude. his strengths verse my strengths, serving and volley versus my return. so i always wanted to know what it was like to play myself. in 1984 in the finals of wimbledon i was, you know, and i don't like saying this, i mean he took me apart pretty quickly in the finals of wimbledon. and i thought he was going to be around for a while. but you know, i think thats with a classic case of other things creeping into your life. >> he's such a know it all. let's go to the tape for that-- no i was around. i didn't win any more, i won the next major by the way after that too. but it got progressive-- i mean thinged happened. and he's absolutely right about that. but i will tell you one thing, playing conners was amazing for me because he fought me a lot about how to compete. and i knew that i was trying to take away something that he wanted to hold on to. i mean we were both americans. and he didn't want to give that up. and he did everything possible to not give it to me. but that made me better. >> rose: do you believe, because i do believe this, there's no former player who seems to love the game and want to give back more to the game than you. >> tell me more. no. >> rose: i'm serious about that. >> i think there's other players that want to do that. >> rose: but dow t you're out there. you try davis cup. >> i did try captaining davis cup, i was begging players to play, that was problematic. conners actually comment tated for a couple of years back at the end of my career, soft '91 and '92 and he would say son, he likes to call me son. but you go do that, that's-- i don't like the meetings. so i walked into this thinking okay, this could be different at the very least. but it actually turned out looking back 20 years that this was something that turned out to be good for me. because people saw a side of my personality that i don't think they had seen a whole lot on the court. like god forbid i had a sense of humor and maybe i didn't take my life quite that seriously. >> rose: or you could be right about something. >> and that i was right every single time, but that gave me sort of a forum. but it also kept me close to the game which i realized as time went on, as you get a little older, you don't know about this, charlie, but you get a little perspective. >> great britain has a men's grand slam champion. andy murray. >> rose: let's take a look at the year. go back to the australian open. is there a direct line from where you lost in the finals in a five hour match to that match and to the u.s. open last night? >> i think so. i think i learned a lot from that match. you know, some of the big matches in the past, i will lost and maybe hadn't felt like i played my best. but i played a great match with novak there, five hours is a brutal match physically, very demanding. i gave 110%. i learned a lot from that, definitely helped me yesterday. >> and then winning, losing at wimbledon, what was the impact of that? >> that was probably toughest loss of my career. you know, obviously playing in front of a home crowd at wimbledon. >> so desperately wanted to you do that. >> it has been a long time since britain won a slam and also wimbledon. it would have been nice to have won that one. i was very up set for a few days afterwards. but i got great support after the tournament. and that really picked me up to get myself ready for the olympics. >> rose: it reminded me of roy mcelroy who came back from having blown the masters to win the u.s. open in a dramatic way. you know, today not letting defeat get in the way of victory the next time. >> yeah, that was it. i mean, you know, i was up a couple of sets. and then it got back to two sets all. and i went off the court. i went to the bathroom and just, you know, thought to myself, you know, i'm not going let this one slip a what. you're going to fight for every point, give 110% and leave everything out there on the court. and i just managed to get it in the end. >> rose: how tired were you at that moment? >> my feet were really, really sore. i felt okay the rest of my body felt okay. but my feet were really, really painful. it wasn't too hot last night which helped both of us. because you know some of the rallies we were playing if it had been hot would have been very, very tough on the body. but, yeah, my feet were in a lot of pain. >> rose: and the first moment when you saw that ball go out that we just saw and you knew you had won your first grand slam. >> yeah, i was in a bit of shock, bit of disbelief. and then i just felt very, very relieved. i've lost four slam finals in the past. and i know how enough it is to win one of those events. and the older i was getting, having not won one, i was thinking to myself was it ever going to happen. so i was just very relieved to have finally done it. >> rose: let's talk about the people who were part of winning this as well as you, of which you were obviously the extraordinary part of it in the tip of the spear. but there's your mother who i just yet. >> yeah. >> rose: your early coach, a scottish champion. what did she add? >> well, she, i mean obviously i probably wouldn't have gotten into tennis if it wasn't for my mum because she played it when she was younger. so she was able to help me and my brother when we were young, help us with technique and some coaching and helping us enjoy it. because in scotland we really have many tennis players or coaches that at that time, of a high level so to have a mum that was great. but you know, in tennis takes alot of sacrifice from your parents. there's a lot of traveling. it can be an expensive sport. and they sacrificed a lot for me and my brother. >> rose: your mother was a player. she's been a coach as well. but you left home at 15 to go to barcelona. >> yeah. and that was a decision that i made myself. and i'm lucky that my parents kind of accepted that decision. it can't be easy to send your kits-- kids away from home at that age. but i didn't have the right environment or facilities in scotland to try and fulfill my dreams. >> rose: what were your dreams? >> i wanted to get into the top 100 in the world in tennis. that was my main goal when i was around that age at 15. and i went over to spain to do that. they have the best track record at producing players at that level. >> rose: barcelona. >> yeah. >> rose: and by 18 you were in the top what? >> i finished in my 18th year i finished about around 60, 65 in the world. >> rose: and when were you in the top ten? >> when i was 20. i think when i was 19 i think i finished the year around 121 or 10 or something like that-- 111-- 11. >> rose: what is fascinating is understanding what young kids show in terms of potential so that somehow they merge and they know su have the stuff to become a great champion. many don't. >> yeah. >> rose: and some do. you and also novak showed that. i mean you play him when you were 11. what is it you show, you just are better than everybody around you when are you nine, 10 and 11 and you show enough potential to move to the next level? >> yeah, i think there's different ways of looking at it when you're watching some kids play. i never played with a lot of power. i played with a lot of feel and touch and variety. whereas a lot of the kids i was playing with were big guys and hitting a big ball. but i was finding different ways to win against them. someone like novak, he's an incredibleate lease-- athlete. i think when you spot someone like that at a young age you can see that if you can work on their game a bit, you know they can be top players. >> rose: the hand-eye coordination, strength, everything. >> yeah, i mean his speed and his flexibility is incredible. he's obviously worked on it a lot since he was a kidment but we grew up playing together and we've got different game styles, different bodies. we play a very different type of tennis. and it's fun to play against him. >> rose: yeah. how would he describe the difference. you play a more complete game in terms of the variety of arsenals you use t maybe overpowers the opponent or what? >> i mean i think from-- i mean my opinion of his game is that he's so consistent, you know, he's like a wall. he's so fast around a court. he reaches every single ball. >> rose: so do you. >> i'm not quite clear as flexible as him. i don't reach as many balls as him. but i try. i mean i play again, like you say, with a little bit more of variety. i try and change the pace of the ball a little bit so i don't give my opponent the same shot in a row. some, i guess, in club tennis would would say sort of junk, a little junk. >> rose: but mcenjoe had that, that's what he had, capacity to, you know, a variety of shots that couse, that suggested an extraordinary connection between hand and racket. >> yeah. i think someone like mcenroe, obviously when i was growing up i didn't see him but i watched videos of him and i love watching him play just because-- just because he made the game look sozz easy. and that's one of the things i think you also spot if you are looking for a young kid is someone that doesn't look like they're putting loads of effort and they're winning and making their opponent do all the running even though they look like they're just standing still. and mcenroe definitely had that. >> rose: i want to come back to that point. but here's the other thing. many people who have written about you have said the following. now you've had this complete game. novak has said that, he's got a complete game. can do anything. but they somehow sense that in the-- this year, you have more confidence in going for the win. is that resonate with you? >> yeah, that was one of the things that i spoke about in the past when i was younger, you know, i would play too far behind the baseline and be a bit passive. and you know, because i was able and quick enough to get to a lot of balls i would play defensively and rely on speed to try and win matches. and you know, even when i spoke to him before i started working together he said you know you need to go for it. you can't set back and let these guys dominate you and dictate you. it's not fun. it's painful on the body and you need to make them do some of the running as well. that's what i try to do. >> the thing that amazes me about people of your level, is how is the preparedness for the shot when it comesment you see the ball coming off the rocket, obviously. you know pretty much if you play the kind of game and shot they are going it to hit but if you look at pro players and all good players, is is this how prepared they are. it almost looks like slow motion. >> i think that's the thing that you see when you are watching top professionals and most sports it looks like they have so much time even though the ball is coming so quickly. and it doesn't feel like i have a lot of time when i'm on the court. i feel often like i'm very rushed. but yeah, i think that's what happens in a lot of the top sports. it's amazing how much time it looks like the players have on the ball. >> i think it may have, i'm not sure who it was said that the genius in hockey is not to go where the puck is, to be where the puck is going to bement and you know how, you know, to go where the ball is going to be. >> yeah, i think anticipation in today's game because it's so quick that's hugely important. and like i say with novak, for example, he is incredibly quick. so so flexible and not as fast, probably or as flexible as him. but i try to anticipate the ball well and that's something that has helped me since i've been a kid, just learning to anticipate and read the game well. you know, has helped me when i move, i was 15, i was playing with big guys that were 22 to 28 years old. and i was 15 so i could beat them with power. i need to beat them with touch and variety and anticipation and all of those things. so i learned a lot when i was over there. >> what do you need to improve in your game? >> i mean there's a lot of things i would still like to improve. i mean i can still serve better, i think. i've improved that a bit this year. but i'm still looking to improve that. >> what's the difference in playing roger and playing novak? >> very different players. you know roger-- . >> rose: seems graceful. >> quite effortless when he's playing, for the rest of the tour pretty much it looks like we're putting a lot more effort than him. >> rose: why is that, his game is so smooth it's almost-- gliding. >> there are a lot of things that go into it he plays with a very loose racket. so the tension of his rack set very low so he doesn't need to swing as hard at the ball as some of the other guys. because it comes off his racket a lot quicker. he plays very close to the baseline. he has very classical technique. he just looks good when he's on the court. i mean there's not many guys that are able to do that and, you know, he's one of the best players that has ever played the game. >> rose: and how about rafa. >> i mean they are almost complete opposites. one leftie, one rightie,. >> rose: one is better on grass, one better on clayness. >> and just the brute force that rafa plays with and the intensity that he has from the first point through to the last. he's one of the best competitors i think that tennis has ever seen. probably won't see for a while. he's like a jimmy conners. i think that is the imaginery and enthusiasm and everything. >> is he physically stronger than everybody else. >> i don't know. at this think mentally he's one of the strongest players. i don't know whether he's stronger than some of the other guys but i think mentally he keeps such a high level for so long and his focus is so, so good for someone that's been so successful at a young age. he was number two in the world when he was 17 years old. and he's been the top 2 or 3 in the world from 17 through to 25. it's been eight years. he's been right at the top of the game and i think that's very impressive for someone that started doing it at such a young age. >> it's remarkable, the last 30 grand slams have been won, the last 30 grand slams, 29 have been won by either rafa, before last night, or roger or novak. 29 of the 30 grand slams. >> yeah, it's been amazing. its consistency that they've had, especially the last two years novak, the dominance he has shown. >> rose: i mean that was amazing. when he was coming on, he was having a greater year than anybody had ever seen. >> an amazing year. he didn't lose a match until the french open which was in may. incredible. one of the best-- i think it's the best year we've ever seen in tennis or will ever see again, ever again. >> rose: and you can explain it? >> no, confidence is huge in sports. and he, he won the davis cup for his country at the end of the previous year. and he said that that was what lifted him. you know, he felt great after that it gave him all the confidence in the world and unfortunately i ran into him in the usie open that year and the rest is history. >> rose: do you any sense of your potential? >> i think right now i haven't-- i mean when i was younger you always dream, you know, of winning grand slams or getting to number one in the world. you know, i got to number two in the world and it has taken me a long time to win a grand slam. so i have won the first one i would object veysly like to try and win one more but i was just so relieved to get one because. >> it's hard to break through. >> i didn't know whether one was there at the end of my career so i'm glad it was. >> dow feel different. do you feel in a sense that you have crossed some baferier that now gives you renewed momentum and strength and mental satisfaction? >> i feel-- like i said, i feel relegal-- relieved. i'll know probably when i step back on the tennis court again when i start practicing and training again how different, you know, i feel as a player and how much confidence i will have gained from it. right now i am obviously still letting everything sink in still and still enjoying it, yeah, i will know in a few weeks. >> and one of the great up sets in u.s. open history, tennis has a new champion, 20-year-old juan matin dell potro. >> rose: what's most surprising about this for you? >> everything, i'm surprised with pie game w my mind, with the crown, with the final because i was losing since the first point on this and then i was fights, but losing the match, you know. and that's difficult to play against russia. but of course i did everything perfect after the second set. and i get the trophy. >> rose: how was the third set different from the first set in terms of your head and the way you played? >> well, i won the second set and after i start to play, i see he start to miss balls and he's moving slowly and i say this is my moment, try to keep the defense. he's got a match. >> because russia, everybody know-- rafa everybody knows he's the best one. he has an opportunity, he take it. and i did tell me self what my coach said and that tea. >> rose: what was the strategy? >> first try to -- i was so nervous the first set. of course i would love to win the final but i would love to win. and the strategy was trying to find his-- if i have a chance to, i do it. and be focused because i know, i dream with this moment and i will take my chance. >> you must have talked on the telephone with your parents. >> yes, i talk when i finish the match. but we can't speak too much because i was crying. they was crying. and everybody was so excited. it was difficult to talk. >> rose: you have gone from ranked 60th to 6th in the last year. what changed about your game? >> a lot. i changed myself, my forehand. i play more aggressive right now. i can play on every surface and that's very important to be a great champion in the future. >> when you look at this, ed berg, sam pass, agassi, rafter, hewitt, sampras, roddick, federer, federer, federer, federer, you knew going on to that court yesterday at 4:00 you had a chance. >> yeah, yeah. when i beat rafa i start to see in the final, my mind changed a lot. i start to feel the sensation and the nervous of my first final. and i think that helped me to be quiet in that moment, to be focused in the important moment and to fight for my chance. >> the fact that you had played and beaten roger before, did that make a difference? >> i wasn't closing the french open but i loved him much. i missed with my serve. i don't play good points in important moments. he takes this opportunity and to last night i did everything good in important moments. i put the ball into the court. i always be looking for my winner, and that's the way to play. >> when you double faulted twice -- >> oh, that's a pity, double faults his way right out of the set. >> federer leaves 2 sets to one. >> what did you say to yourself. >> i say bad things. >> rose: stop it. >> yeah, stop it. and many things. >> rose: you said bad things to yourself. >> yeah, yeah. i say martin, you keep fighting, you're playing good and then you are close to the set and you miss the serve. but when he i laid down with my head, the ground started to turn for me. i feel more first and everybody was one, two, three, show the final. >> we all wanted to see it go all the way. five sets. >> that helped me a lot to keep trying. >> those forehands across court. >> oh my. >> were as hard and fast as anything i've seen. and i've seen lots of tennis. is that your best shot? >> yes, i think so. it's my favorite shot and i use it very important moment. and it sometimes works. >> and sometimes doesn't. >> so here you are at the u.s. open champion. and you cry with your parents and you cheer with your friends. and you are out late last night celebrating, i'm sure. what do you attribute it to? why are you going to find your name on this trophy. >> this is my dream. i always practice for this moment. i always keep trying for winning a grand slam, of course, my favorite grand slam is the u.s. open. >> rose: why is that? >> i don't know. i love new york. i like the stadium. i like-- i love everything. of course the trophy. >> rose: what is your best surface? >> hard court rdz hard court. >> yes. >> rose: and grass? >> no, i'm not too good. >> rose: an. >> clay court, i feel good because i learn to play tennis in clay court. and all argentinian players knows. >> rose: if you were starting over would you have a two hand backhand? >> yeah. >> rose: you still would? >> yeah. >> rose: what's the advantage, power? >> yeah, more control, more power. when you-- you have two hands to play. >> rose: yeah. the court sets, where does that come from, the sense of being able to be smart about playing the court, just doing it. >> yeah, yeah its its dave to go to the court to play against the best tennis player in history. >> take a look at this shot this is the hardest i have ever seen this shot hit. >> the reaction was great. >> rose: he is in your judge. roger federer the greatest player ever to play the game. >> yeah. but i always thinking in my chances, in my game, of course, believing in myself, i was quiet trying to insurance the moment and trying to take my chance. and i did, i think i did everything perfect. >> rose: yes, you did. was there a moment in the last, in your career, in which you thought you could be here? could win a grand slam. was it five years ago or two years ago or was it ten years ago or was it? last week. >> no, i think after french open. >> rose: really. >> this year i say-- . >> rose: i can win a grand slam. >> i can be in the final or i can beat-- or i can roger. >> rose: yeah. >> roger federer is the united states open champion. he has won three of the four major titles this year. >> rose: what does this mean and how do you feel and i mean it was so, you obliterated leighton who is a very good player and was on a run. >> yeah, he's a great player, you note. i really try not to look at the score too much, you know, because it was obviously if you look at the score you might think it was a totally easy match and so on. i think the second set was the key to success. that is definitely. but you know i'm just-- for me it's still very difficult to understand actually what just happened, you know. because not only winning the u.s. open but three out of the four major this year for me is something. i never thought possible for me, especially wing the u.s. open i thought it would be extremely difficult to do. and now to have done it the same year where i won two other ones, it's fantastic. >> rose: is it possible to win a grand slam, of course it is, four. >> of course it s like you say. but i don't know, to me it seems very difficult to do so. but it is possible. but it's not something i'm aiming for, that's for sure. >> rose: everybody is talking about your game. i mean they are saying players are talking about your game. that they just want to watch you. they are describing it as, you know, as beautiful as tennis can be. memories 6 jerry-- jerry west and joe dimaggio and michael jordan from other sports. it's talked about as a kind of rare level of genius. when you hear all of that, what do you-- do you feel that your game is at a certain place. that you're never expected it to be. or it like no game that you have -- >> actually when i was young i never thought i could play tennis the way i'm playing it right now. i always knew there was some hidden talent in me. with my strokes, with my style of play. but that i could actually explore it as much as i did now, it's for me also a big surprise. i think for me the key to really actually explore my whole potential was actually improving my footwork because now that my footwork is always in place when i'm hitting my shots it looks even better and i can play shots where i think sometimes they're lost but i can still get them back. that kind of makes sometimes the important points. >> rose: is it simply confidence that you can do it or more. >> well, mental means every day, coming out of your bed and being ready to go. and win matches when you're not playing well. it's easy to win when you're playing well. but when you're not feeling well, you know, this is very difficult sometimes to actually get the motivation and say let's do it, you know, today. and i guess the whole experience of gained by winning all of these big tournaments obviously helped me. >> rose: when you make an unforced error what generally causes it? >> i would say usually because my footwork is not in place, you know. either because the opponent pushed me too hard, because i'm tired. because i took too much risk or whatever it can be, different things but usually it's the footwork because you can't get your body behind the ball. and then it's kind of a little bit luck if it goes in at all. >> rose: why tennis? >> i don't want to say i had a choice but i was playing soccer as well. i enjoy playing soccer and tennis the most. at 12 years old t is very early but i had to take kind of a decision what i want to do more regularly because my soccer coach would tell me if you don't come to all the practice sessions throughout the week, i can't make you play on the weekends the matches. and all that matter to me were the match, obviously. so i told him then i think then in that case, i will have to go for tennis. because i love tennis i guess more than soccer. and that's the decision i took. and was clearly the right one. >> rose: yes t was. >> but there are those who say that sock certificate great preparation for tennis because of footwork. >> i thought good about soccer was just the coordination with the ball, you know. i love playing table tennis, badminton, squash. i played all rocket sports, ball sports, basketball as well. so for me everything i have ever did was with a ball. i'm not a big fan of running, 6 swimming, of riding the bike, those things. for me there has to be a ball somewhere. >> rose: so hand-eye too. >> yeah, very much. and my coordination is also very good. which obviously helps. >> rose: is there anything missing in your game? >> i don't know? you ask like this after wing the u.s. open, no. >> rose: or after winning three grand slams. >> no, i'm very happy the way it's going right now. my group around me i'm really happy with them. my fisio, my condition trainer, my girlfriend, my friends, my family, everybody supports me so much. and there's a very high level of confidence in everybody around me. i trust them, you know, as much as i can. >> rose: does this feel like an extension of your hand for you it do you feel the head of the racket almost because of the touch. >> yeah. it's strange because like when i play volleyball, you know, i don't have nothing. >> rose: there's no racket. >> there's no racket, you know, so i feel like kind of short, really. so if i hold a rack net my hand it feels totally normal and i know exactly how long i can reach and everything, you know, it's totally strange. and volleyball, i don't know, it feels like there's something missing, you know. >> rose: i mean there used to be a great very agile basketball player pete marovich in the nba, as a kid he would take a basketball with him to sleep and everywhere he went so the basketball would feel, and when he went to the movies, you know, so the basketball felt like an extension of his own hand. and he became enormously skilled at what codo with the basketball. and it is said that michael jordan was be early hero of yours, was sne. >> i mean if i look at sports in all, you know, he's probably my favorite athlete. like becker and-- you like becker more than edberg because becker's passion to win? >> i don't know. i kind of becker was my first idol and everybody told me edberg is also pretty good, isn't he. and i still prefer becker and they are like come on he's cooler. okay i like edberg too. it was jordan, i've always fell in love with basketball when i was younger. i still play my tennis ball between my legs sometimes when i walk around the courts. i took that over actually from basketball. >> rose: from jordan. >> i don't know from jordan but just from basketball. i just think you know he's, what he has done is unbelievable, you know. and i admire him very much. >> rose: tell me what you were thinking about yesterday, when, after you hit the ball, the return comes to you it depends on portion on the speed of the ball, depends where the opponent is an all of that. but what i think is amazing for most of us who watched you and what i have read of pros who talk about your game is that what you can do with it wherever you are, and your sense of the court and the arsenal of shots. >> that definitely is an advantage i have. i read the game very well which means as soon as i hit my shot, i know the options my opponent has. and i know where to move to. i mean that obviously comes with a lot of practice and training. and also that's also a gift, it's a talent. but the important to use it and i think now that i'm in the top of my game, i don't know if i ever played better than in that u.s. open final. opponents use it and i did it really -- >> you don't know if you ever played any better than you played yesterday. >> i don't know. >> i really don't know. i play good tennis in my life before but again, you know, to-- i don't know to get it out of me in a grand slam final, in front, in the biggest stadium of the world, 20,000 people, you never have this many people watching you live, you know. it is something special. and i know this is not something normal. >> early in your career you had a huge temper t is said. >> it is said and it's true. >> rose: a temper at yourself or because you wanted to win so bad or what? >> i was a terrible loser, yeah. i would lose in chess against my father, you know. i would throw the board a watch. i would start even-- start to cry. and especially in tennis or soccer if i would lose i would always cry very often. i was very sad. i was not angry, i was rather sad, you know. and actually up until say four years ago or so i would still sometimes or two or three years even i would used to cry sometimes after hard losses. because i was just so sad. i put so much effort into it and it didn't pay off. but that's just me. and at the same time, you know, that was just one side. the other side was the angryness on the court, sadness after the match and angry during the match. so it was-- . >> rose: if are you angry during the match it is going to affect your play. >> yeah, and it did, you know. i screamed, i swore. i threw my racket, i acted bad. everything is against me. i can't play in these conditions. i would always speak very, very negative, you know. >> rose: and how did you overcome it. >> all my coaches have always told me, listen, you got to relax otherwise you can't play. you are losing way too much energy on this little things. so i said yeah, i know but it's good for me to let it out. they said no, it's not good. and actually it was only myself who could tell myself now, roger, you have to calm down. otherwise it is to the going to-- it's not going to last. because you are losing way too much energy. and i started to feel embarrassed at sometimes playing on the center court and noing my racket, breaking them, and hitting balls all over the place. so i stopped. and i'm really focused. >> rose: i mean are you on top at 23, you just won three grand slams in one year. next year you begin with the australian, open you win the australian, open you win the french, wimbledon, the u.s. open. >> okay. >> rose: that is a huge challenge. do you worry about anything? i mean dow worry about tennis losing an attraction? dow worry about getting distracted by all the fame and attention and money. do you worry about any of that? >> no, actually not. i find you know andy brings something really flu to the game with his huge serve. and his attitude and character, you know. then you have other players as well. agassi still playing at 34. so i don't see a reason why this game should be getting boring t is actually getting much more exciting. >> rose: you could have a good ten years. >> it's a long time, i will be 33. and it all actually depends how long my motivation can carry me and my body. >> rose: that's the question. >> but also body, you know. if i get injuries, you know, then we have another problem. to look at. but so far i have been lucky with injuries and i think that is also definitely a key to success. because the guys who are not injured, they have a better career. it's very clear. >> rose: what dow do between now and the australian? >> i have five tournaments left. one in asia, three in europe, and one at the end of the year, the last one, the masters in houston. the masters cup, the world championships, where i have to defend my title. i won there last year. so i play a few more tournaments but also i get some time off. i get three weeks holiday. it's not much but it's not bad for me. >> there it. a backhand pass again, and leighton hewitt has won the united states open, his first grand slam title. >> rose: think of all the great tennis players. >> and all the great names on its back that have been engraved. and to have that, to get my name engraved it really say great honor. >> rose: your name along with rod, kenny rosewall. >> it's unbelievable. >> doesn't get much better than those guys. >> rose: john mcenroe, john mcenroe. >> he won it a few times the les goes on and on. why do you think you won? other than the fact you played better tennis. >> i was just very mentally tough out there. i wanted it badly and i went out there and i believed in myself. and your first grand slam final i think sometimes nerves can take a part and i got rid of the nerves. i broke in the first game in the matchup, held 87 consecutive service games throughout. >> what did you think at that moment when you realize that for the first time he had been broke then 87 matches. >> i few going into the match i had to break early because he is the kind of guy if he gets in a good rhythm he will be extremely hard to break. he's got possibly the greatest serve ever. and i just thought was important the first two or three games on his service games to try and get that one breakthrough to let him know that i'm seeing the ball well, and i'm going to make it by a lot of volleys and you will have to be in a dogfight if you will hold serve every time. the first set was a dogfight out there he had break point chances to get up and break, hi some as well, we went into a tie break and i got one minibreak, i hit a great backhand pass to get the minibreak and take that first set. >> the backhand return is what made the game for you. >> for sure. my return serve is one of my main strengths, no doubt about that. something growing up i've always seen younger playing, older age groups, haven't been the biggest and strongest guy and i had to work on other areas of my game to counterpunch the big serve. no better way to do that then returning serve. and i draw confidence for watching guys, michael chang, the smaller quicker guys around the court who andre agassi has won every grand slam on ef he radio surface. >> rose: when did you feel that you had it, that this could be your day? >> i probably started with that feeling when i went double break after the third set. >> rose: third set. >> two sets to love up and you are not starting to think about oh i can see the trophy in the corner. >> but in a sense you realize this was a good day four, you are hitting the ball. >> after all setting the breakupment i got an early break in the second set and i wanted to get up two sets to love and really put the pressure on. because he had three tough matches before mine as well. so i knew if i could take some of the wind out of the sail a little bit then it was going to be a lot better off so i tried to get that early break. after i won the second set i really didn't think about closing out the match, i get up 4-1 double break serving in the third set, it's starting to sink in more. >> he said you've got the best return of service you've ever faced. >> pretty cool. >> you just played agassi a couple nights before. >> for me andre agassi still has the best return serve in the game. you know, as i said before t is my strength. and something that i have worked on a lot. >> he also said su have the best wheels in the game. >> yeah, well. >> rose: speed was amazing for you. you were getting almost every shot. you were going back and back and back and back. >> i moved, treatmently well the whole tournament. >> rose: did you ever had any doubt that this moment would come again, that you would be on top again. >> i always assumed i would be number one. i always assumed that is why i wanted to play some of. and that's why i wanted to play so well. and have a good comeback, i always felt like i want to be number one and i have the potential to be number one. and there was no doubt in my mind. >> rose: that you would be number one. >> yeah. >> rose: again after having been number one. >> yeah. >> rose: listen this quote. >> a combination of a pit bull dog, a young mike tyson and an alligator. you have heard that quote before. >> yeah, i believe that is a quote my dad said to describe my personality, right. >> rose: exactly what he said. is your dad right or -- >> you know. >> rose: exaggerated for dad. >> no, he's right. on the court i'm a different person. i'm really intense. i'm really hard-core. and i am like a pit bull which i think is like really fierce and you know, kind of mean even on the court. but i think you kind of have to like just, in sports, in general, you do have to have some sort of tenacity that makes you whatever it takes that can lift to you the top. >> rose: and if you can intimidate the other person in a sense who fears you, then that's part of the game of defeating someone, is it not? >> you know t is. and that's just how it is. it's like you do have to have some sort of intimidation factor, whatever the case, whatever it is, i think, it's important to have it. >> rose: does venus tell you where the weaknesses in your game are? >> we talk about like when i'm playing someone she always mentioned, you know, serena you need to do this you need try to do this. it was interesting after the final she was like whooo, you better be glad you weren't playing me today playing like that. >> rose: she thought she could have taken you. >> yeah, on that day he had probably come i don't think i played as well on the finals as i did in the quarterfinals against vins. i mean i was playing i think a lot better. >> rose: what's the difference? i mean is it the opponent, the weather, the crowd, the what? >> the opponent. when i'm playing venus i have to bring my a game. i can't show up and bring a b minus or b plus. i have to bring my a plus game. and you know especially she was on a roll. she was playing so well, had just won wimbledon. so it was like, you know, no choice. >> rose: does your a plus game beat her a plus game? or does her a plus game beat your a plus game? >> you know, it's a toss up. i mean i can't sit here and say that venus is better than me. i have to believe in myself and have confidence. so i have to say that my a plus game is better than hers. and i have to say if she was here-- . >> rose: it wasn't at wimbledon. >> i wasn't playing my a plus game at wimbledon, by the way. but if she was here, then you know she probably would say the same thing. >> rose: have you grown closer over the years. >> actually i think we have. i really think that we have actually grown closer. and we just do more things together. we talk more, just about not only things on the court but about things off the court. i think our relationship has just gotten much stronger. >> rose: sort of a shared experience as one has, may benefit the other. >> right. i think the fact that we have gone through more than what we had in the past, it's been better. >> rose: do your parents play a significant role in your life today. i know they play a role in your tennis but are they also instrumental in terms of the decisions that you make as a young woman, but becoming very much, you know a mature woman. >> yeah, my mom is really instrumental in my life, especially off the court. she's actually really instrumental in my life on the court as well. she's kind of like the silent, you know, killer who really gives me lots of strategy and what to do. she's really good at strategic things but off the court as well, i think she's very smart person. a very smart woman that i would go to if i had questions about anything, about life, about relationships, about, you know, something that i'm not sure of. i think that she offers some really, solid and doesn't beat around the bush about anything in life. >> rose: what is the weakness in your game? >> the weakness in my game, should i talk about that, i mean you think someone's going to be listening? >> i don't like to talk about my weakness. i'm sure everyone knows it already. but i just think that-- . >> rose: what do you think you ought to improve, future a different way. >> i would like to improve just being able to play a to z the whole match without thinking about something else or without like letting my mind go. >> rose: your mind goes in the game. >> it does. >> rose: you're thinking about a movie or somebody you see in the stands. >> let me tell you. i will think about anything, i mean like i don't know why. maybe it's just a new generation. maybe i have a short attention spachblt but i think this tournament i have really been focusing. when i was at the olympics it helped i was working with-- gar ison and lori mcneil and they started me on this concept. they say serena you have to play, are you a good player. and i played this one match at the olympics and lost to the girl who actually won the gold medal. and i only went from a to probably p. and i didn't make it to sdferjts i ended up losing the match. they said you played a great set and a half. and i said i think that was a good turning point for me. i have to be able to play two set, not a set and a half. and that's why i lost today. and i wasn't angry after the loss because i felt like everything had clicked after that. and so after that i just been working on playing a to z, and i didn't do it at all if he open, almost, sometimes i did still lose focus. but i think if i can do that, i can be really, really dangerous. >> rose: are you dangerous, thank you for coming. it's always great to see. thank you very much for coming. >> thank you very much. >> rose: and congratulations on an extraordinary summer. >> thank you so much. >> rose: serena williams. thank you very much for joining us. we'll see you next time. >> funding for charlie rose has been provided by the coca-cola company supporting this program since 230-- 200 -- wferning and american express 08/26/13 08/26/13 [captioning made possible by democracy now!] >> from pacifica, this is democracy now! this is not the time for an assault on deliberation, nor is this the time for self- congratulatory celebration. the task is not done. the journey is not complete. must do more. >> 50 years after the 19 63 march on washington for jobs and freedom o

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