Q. Do you truly love this game, or are you just playing because this is what you know how to do, this is what you were brought up to do? Do you have the same kind of love of the game Andre had?
MARAT SAFIN: Well, of course Andre didn't play for the money. That's for sure. He has enough, and much more. So I guess you have to give something back. What else? There are much more things you can do in life, that's for sure. Also in Andre's position, I'm sure he's pretty big in Las Vegas and he has a lot of opportunities outside of tennis. But once you dedicate your youth, basically all your life to tennis, and all of a sudden to achieve something and then say, Bye bye, thank you very much and try to do something else, it's one of like Rios, he did that. I think you have to give to the tennis as much as you can, everything, so you don't have any regrets, and give to spectators. And basically everything what Agassi and Rios, and some other guys, what they have in life is thanks to the tennis. So just to take as much as you can and then just leave, I don't think is the right way.

Amelie Mauresmo after beating Serena Williams:
Q. To come back in the third set after such a horrible second set, is that what comes with the confidence of being No. 1 now?
AMÉLIE MAURESMO: I don't know, but it's also being able to forget about that second set, you know. I just, yeah, maybe in these kind of situations before I would have act differently in the third set. But, really, I just tried to leave it behind me and make sure that I was focusing back on the game and on, first of all, not doing too many mistakes. Because, I mean, I gave her really that second set. So, you know, first of all, I tried to focus on that and then, you know, take the opportunities, take the chances I would have. It was much better in the third set.

Q. We know how you feel about your new found confidence and stuff and where it came from. Are you ever surprised at how much of a difference it really made in everything from presumably yourself, conception on the court?
AMÉLIE MAURESMO: It doesn't make huge difference. It's just few details here and there that can, at the end of the day, make a considerable difference. But it's just, you know, really the way I am. And maybe in these key moments in matches, you know, I don't maybe panic or I'm just trying to keep it really loose and relaxed and really think about what I have to do and about the game and what's going on. So try to also put things into perspective a little bit.

Q. Can you talk about coming to net more and playing more serve and volleying.
JUSTINE HENIN HARDENNE: That's the kind of game I played a lot in the last few tournaments. We worked a lot on it with my coach. It's gonna be the kind of game I will have to play in the next few years if I want to stay on the tour, yeah, couple of more years, because I'm not as tall, I'm not as strong as the other players. I save some energy to play like this. I have a good success when I play like that. So it's important.

Q. Can you talk about, when you go out to compete, how much of how you perform is mental, how you're thinking, where your head is. Or, is it a matter of training and how you've been doing and how you wake up that day?
MARAT SAFIN: No, is just not like that. We already in a at a high performance. Professionals, we basically dedicate ourselves, all our lives, to become what we are right now. So everything, it becomes mental after a while. Once you become pro and you become a pretty good pro, it just is not anymore the technique. It's not anymore the serve. It's not anymore the forehand, backhand, or serve and volley, something like that. It's just a mental thing to keep yourself cool sometimes, and sometimes to push yourself to risk it at important moments, or try to stay back and make the right decisions at the right moment. Because everybody can play backhand and forehand. There's no problem. I think who is tougher mentally is winning basically. So this is just it's already who is better mentally prepared is basically top 10 players. It's unbelievable. They just focused throughout the match. No ups and downs. They know exactly what to do in important moments. That's why it makes such a big difference. Because tennis, everybody has.

James Blake talking about the supportive fans in New York at the U.S. Open:

JAMES BLAKE: Yeah, definitely. I especially feel it here. I said it a few times, I don't ever feel the momentum is against me out on Arthur Ashe Stadium. When I'm out on these grounds, it seems like the fans can pick me up, whether I'm down a break, two breaks, they're still cheering for me. I do one good thing, and they're behind me again. I've always said that about New York fans, they seem to care about what you do here, how much effort you put in here. They don't care if you didn't do well at the French, you didn't do well at Wimbledon. If you come here, and you put in your best effort, they're gonna get behind you. I love that.

Q. Tatiana said the thing that separates you from other players is when things get really tough, you step up your game.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I just enjoy the battle of it. You know, I enjoy those moments. I love playing tennis because I'm a competitor. I love the competition. I'll be honest with you, I don't do it just to go out on the court and practice and hit balls over and over. That's definitely not fun for me. But I do it to be in, you know, those moments and try to succeed in them. I love it, yeah.

James Blake after losing in the quarterfinals to Roger Federer:
JAMES BLAKE:…I played all right. It's tough to lose when you're playing all right, but it's a good feeling to know that I'm close to Roger.   First time I took a set. A wise man or, well, maybe not a wise man, just Todd Martin told me if you win one set, you can win two. If you can win two sets, you can win three.

James Blake on why Federer is so good…

JAMES BLAKE: There's just too many things he does well. He doesn't panic. He plays offense unbelievably well. He plays defense better than anyone I've ever played. He makes so many gets, and when he gets to it, he doesn't just put it back; he puts it where it's difficult for you to hit the next shot. Volleys well. Serves well. Handled the pressure of being No. 1 in the world. He's handled the pressure of being against a crowd tonight that was clearly on my side. He handles that very well. He obviously puts pressure on himself to succeed, and has handled all that. Got the biggest forehand in the game. Seems to be able to create pace out of nothing.

Q. There were a couple moments late in the match where you seemed to just look up and kind of take in all the support and almost smile, I think even at tough times. Could you recreate what you were feeling.
JAMES BLAKE: Yeah, well, you know, I was down on myself, in that second set especially. Before the match, I talked to my coach. We thought about it, and there are times you just have to say "too good" and move on, be happy with the way you're playing, be happy with knowing it's your best effort. In that third set I got down, but it was still my best effort and I was fighting hard. Kind of seeing that emotion in the crowd, seeing the people that did stay, people that were so excited, that were cheering for every shot I made, wanting to see more tennis, wanting to see a fifth set, you know, it does make me think of the times when I was talking to my coach about that and it also made me think of guys like Andre Agassi who tell us all, appreciate those moments. You never you're never guaranteed another one.

Q. Blake was saying that he didn't feel any nerves coming from you, that your body temperature was maybe 60 degrees. Last game of the match when you were closing it out, were there nerves there at all?
ROGER FEDERER: Kind of (smiling). I mean, I was just worried that it's gonna go to 5 All and then he's all pumped up, the stadium's all pumped up, and the next thing I know, I might be in the fifth. The fifth is not lost yet, so I was still thinking positive. I still wasn't broken. So I always had the belief that all of a sudden first serve's gonna come back.
But, look, geez, I missed some two forehands which normally I don't miss. But this is the occasion, you know. It's so big, and a lot of pressure on you. So I definitely felt it today because of the circumstances.

Q. Do you think because of the instant replay, I mean, that's been one of the criticisms, that the umpires are going to sit back now and just sort of
JELENA JANKOVIC: Yeah, that's why I'm thinking. I think it's not fair. Why the players always have to challenge? Sometimes we look stupid because just because we can't see it that well, but we know the ball is close. And so you never kind of know how far outside or maybe it's touching little bit the line because those balls are so close. So it's 50/50 chance. If we had like ten challenges, I would challenge all those calls, balls. But I have only two, so what can I do?

Maria Sharapova after losing the second set in the semifinals against Amelie Mauresmo:

MARIA SHARAPOVA: it was definitely tough to get broken that last game of the second set. But, you know, I came off, took a little break, and I just thought to myself that it's not over until it's over, you know. I was still playing good tennis, and I knew that I could win it.

Q. A lot of players talk about Maria's shrieking. The crowd was laughing a little bit when it got pretty loud today. Are you able to tune that out?
AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Yeah, really, I mean, that's what I said a couple days ago. When I play against her, I think it's more you hear it much more when you watch the match than when you play against. I mean, I just totally don't pay attention to that.

Roger Federer on why he doesn’t like the instant replay system:

ROGER FEDERER: It's just not enough points, you know, that really make the difference. That money, we can use it for better causes than for, you know, challenges or whatever it is. It's only on the one or two biggest courts. It's different for the other guys, you know. They're not used to playing with these things. For me of course it might be an advantage in the long run because I know how to handle those challenge calls, but I really don't think it's necessary. But, look, if the fans and the tournaments, they like it, look, it's not my problem, so...

Q. You've spoken of how you've been pleased that you have a friendship with Jimmy, too. Of course, you know, he's the great legend, the icon. What are the one or two things that you like about Jimmy Connors, the man, what qualities?
ANDY RODDICK: I like that he's been an absolute gentleman with my family and with my friends, and even the little things you don't really think of when he's cursing on the court, as far as opening doors for women and little things like that, that, to be honest, I didn't expect (smiling). It's nice to be around. That's probably the things that stood out most to me, and kind of the way he's old school and kind of simplifies things.

Justine Henin-Hardenne after losing to Maria Sharapova in the finals:
Q. You said that Maria played more consistent, she took more chances in this match versus the previous four matches which you had won. What was different in your game today versus those last four matches?
JUSTINE HENIN HARDENNE: Yeah, I couldn't play that long today. I couldn't play that aggressive. She had a lot of time, and she was going for the winners. She did come to the net. I didn't. Sometimes it's like this. Even if you know you have to do it, it's not easy to do it in every match. So she's been brave tonight, and more than me. That made a big difference.

Maria Sharapova after winning the finals:
Q. Can you talk about the preparation you put into getting ready for this tournament, how rewarding this must feel for you to have it pay off like this?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Absolutely incredible. The first thing that comes into my mind when, you know, you go down on the ground and you just think of everything that you've put into this moment, and even though the moment is a very short time you get to be on court with that trophy, it's just so incredible. You know, I experienced it two years ago, and I knew that I wasn't done, I had a lot more in me. That was just the beginning. This is not just preparation that happened a couple weeks before the tournament; this is preparation that I've done ever since I was a little girl with the help of my amazing family.

Q. During the broadcast, the CBS camera showed footage of Michael Joyce holding up four fingers.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I thought this was supposed to be a positive interview.

Q. I know that's what you wanted. But it's broadcast to the nation and you haven't had a chance to respond to it. The implication was that there was some communication. Everyone saw it, because it was
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I just won a Grand Slam. The last thing I'm gonna talk about is some fingers or a banana, all right? I hope you got that one, thanks.

Q. You made a point of acknowledging Billie Jean, and you said a lot of nice words. Did you get to know her during the last two weeks?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No. I saw her once during these two weeks, but I have very fond memories of her growing up. I didn't even get to see her a lot on TV. I never really watched a lot of tennis on TV, but I definitely knew who she was. When I started playing Junior tournaments and I was playing one of the first Grand Slams, she'd always come up to my parents and she'd watch some of the matches I played. She'd always she'd just be a great supporter of Juniors. That's not something that a lot of champions do. You know, she gave advice to my parents. You know, she talked to me. She acknowledged the things that I did well. Yeah, I honestly believe that without her, we would I mean all of us would not have this opportunity to, first of all, be paid the amount of money that we're getting paid, but also to have that excitement and the popularity of women's tennis.

Q. Now do you feel pretty?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I feel pretty darn good.

Q. When Justine won here, she called it her "Confirmation Grand Slam." This is your second. You beat Kim, Mauresmo, Justine, the top three in the last couple months. What does it say about your game? Does it say something special to you about where you've gone now?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I guess I'm not here to compliment my own self. I'm thrilled that I just won my second major. At the end of the day, I'm not done yet, you know. I feel like I'm not done. I still have years to go in my career where I feel like I am gonna improve and I am gonna become a better player than I am today. But I'm absolutely thrilled, because you don't get to experience these moments every day. I think I said that's what you work for every single day, are these moments. Is it a confirmation? No, I honestly don't didn't feel like I needed to confirm anything, no.

Maria Sharapova on why she loves New York City:
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Uhm, well, I came to New York for the first time when I was probably ten or eleven years old. I could not understand the city. I did not like anything about it. But with every year that I've been coming back, I've just gotten to go to different parts of the city, experience it seems like in every part of the city, it's like a different culture, a different way of life. I find it amazing that you could just take a 10 minute taxi ride and just be in a totally different environment. There's so many things to do. But I feel comfortable in it, you know. I don't feel like some people think it's a madhouse; I love it, because I always want to do things, you know. I can't just sit still and be at home and cook. Definitely not me.

Q. What's your best quality as a player?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Uhm, I don't give up, yeah. I don't like to lose, and I'm just strong mentally.

Martina Navratilova talking about her feelings after winning her first tournament:
MARTINA NAVRATILOVA: My first tournament in singles, yeah, I hugged a pole. I played in Orlando in '74. I was with myself. After I won the match, I was so happy and there was nobody to hug because I didn't know anybody. So I hugged a pole, a light pole, next to the umpire's chair. There was a picture in the paper the next day. I won $10,000 and had to give it back to the Czech Federation. Yeah, so, I was playing on $17 a day per diem. Those were the days (smiling).

Martina Navratilova talking about moving into retirement and inspiring people:
MARTINA NAVRATILOVA:… I think I'm inspiring 20 year olds, too. I mean, you should have heard the kids just when I was signing now. You know, introduced my kind of tennis to a new generation, and that's fun. When you have 10 year olds saying, Ms. Navratilova, can I please have your autograph, you're the greatest. I'm like, okay, this is cool, another generation that I've introduced to the game I love and show it how it can be played. So I try to inspire everyone really so you don't get limited by people that say, No, you can't do that because you're too old or because you're heavy or you just, you know, you're not an athlete. Whatever your limitations might be, don't let them define you. I didn't let it define me. When I first said I was gonna play, my father said, Oh, no, you're gonna end in the first round. I lost in the second round (smiling). I was just gonna keep going until I got everything out of myself. And that's what it's about, giving your best every single day. That's how I hope to inspire people regardless of age, you know. I think the way I look is inspiring to a 50 year old as well as a 20 year old as well as an 80 year old. Maybe an 80 year old can't be as good as I am, but a 30 year old would probably like to be in as good a shape as I am.

Martina on how she approached playing her final match:
MARTINA NAVRATILOVA:… Scared doesn't win. Scared doesn't inspire. Scared doesn't do anything. That's what we tried to do today, play inspiring tennis. I didn't play scared. I didn't play nervous. I just played the way I can play. That's what I would say to anybody, Just do what you love, love what you do and leave it all out there no matter what. You have to keep believing. I think the most the biggest thing for athletes is that we really don't quit until we get it right. Just keep going. You know, try to turn every leaf over until, you know, you find all the answers.

Q. …It's almost a cliche that great athletes are not great teachers of athletes. I'm wondering how Jimmy has broken that mold a little bit with you.
ANDY RODDICK: Well, I don't know if his athleticism was the greatest, but his heart was the greatest and his mind was the greatest. So maybe that's where the difference lies. He is a very good teacher.

Roger Federer after winning the U.S. Open title:

Q. At the end of it, you flopped down on your back. You seemed elated, but maybe also a little bit relieved. Could you describe, you know, why that reaction, and maybe was it because Andy really pushed you in the middle two sets?
ROGER FEDERER: I think this is a huge Grand Slam, you know (smiling). Just felt like this is a great moment, once again, in my career. I deserved to lie down (laughter). Kind of give myself a break. From standing up, sitting down and everything, I just thought lying down would be more comfortable. Thank God I didn't injure myself (laughter). I haven't seen it yet in replay, but one thing's for sure: I felt great, you know, lying there on the floor alone. It was good. Good feeling.

Roger Federer after meeting Tiger Woods before the U.S. Open final:
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, for me, of course, it's very nice to get to meet him finally after all the time we've been trying to get to see each other in Shanghai. I remember I was there in Dubai when he was there. He plays so much in the States, that when I'm here, you would think that we would get a chance to see each other. Our schedules, they collide. More and more often, you know, over the last year or so, I've been kind of compared to Tiger, what he's doing on the golf tour, me doing on the tennis tour. So today was kind of the day where finally we got to meet and chat a little longer. I asked him how it was for him. It's funny, you know, because many things were similar. He knew exactly how I kind of felt out on the court. That's something that I haven't felt before, you know, a guy who knows how it feels to feel invincible at times and, you know, when you just have the feeling like there's nothing going wrong any more. In the fourth set, for instance, it's, I guess, for him on the final round, he knows exactly how it feels. That's what was so interesting to talk to him about. Of course that's not all we talked about. We talked about other things, but it was just really great fun to get to meet him. My parents are great golfers, so he was nice enough to talk to them, as well, over the phone. They're not in bed yet, so it was great. He's very nice, and much nicer than I expected. I thought him to be nice, but he's really, really nice, so that's nice.

Q. How do you handle, day by day, the pressure and the expectations after all you've done?
ROGER FEDERER: I don't have pressure walking through the streets, I tell you that, no.
It's okay, you know. I've gotten used to it. No, it's okay by now, you know. I used to feel pressure when I was young and people were saying, This guy's got some talent, but he can't get his mind right, he's not fit enough. This stuff hurt me, you know, back then.
I was at a junction, I don't know how to say, which road do I want to take, the talented road or the hard working road. I chose for the hard working road and it paid off.
The pressure for me now, it's what I enjoy. I like getting goosebumps walking out on center court and serving for the match. These are the moments which you dream for. It's not like it's I guess eventually once I retire, it's kind of like, Finally, it's gone. But at the moment, I enjoy it.

Roger Federer on his feelings about Tiger Woods coming to watch the final:

Q. Did you feel any pressure having him there? Was there any moment where you might have thought the guy's watching you?
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, no, you get that feeling. It's like I don't know how you can relate to it, but, you know, it's like maybe the first time your parents see you do something special, or somebody comes to you, you really maybe look up to, or maybe in the game I don't know. Like if the best ever journalist would be looking at you guys asking every question, you would go like, I make sure it's a good question. For me, it's like when I go out there and I see, you know, Tiger sitting there, it's like, you know, I try to play well, you know? I try to, you know, kind of get my act together and focus and get off to a good start, you know. I remember having this many, many times in my career where, you know, like in the very beginning, Marc Rosset would come watch me play because he was the No. 1 tennis player in Switzerland. When you get to guys coming over to watch your matches, you kind of look over in the box and go, Okay, I know you're here and I hope I do well. It's extra pressure. That's why I try not to go to see the Swiss guys too much, because I know what it could do for them, you know. They look in the box and say, Oh, shit, Roger's here (laughter). So I'd rather watch them on TV. But I can handle it by now, you know. But, still, it still hits me, yes, it does.

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