Quotes from the 2008 Wimbledon Interview Room - Week One
Selected quotes from the players’ post-match press conferences at Wimbledon 2008...
Talking about the history and tradition of Wimbledon...
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It is. I mean, all this history and tradition which we have in Wimbledon, it's enough to just have a look. History of this tournament, it's for me most privileged sorry, most prestigious and the highest possible tournament that is in sports. Just playing here and feeling this atmosphere, a lot of fans of course have a big knowledge about tennis. They respect players. They appreciate what you are doing. It just feels good to be there.
Describing his memories of watching Wimbledon on TV as a child...
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: At the times, probably Pete Sampras, Boris Becker, these guys. I still have a picture in my head of Pete Sampras holding this Wimbledon trophy. So this is one of the pictures in my head which stayed all the way throughout my career and which motivated me actually to become a professional tennis player.
Describing the expectations she faces coming into Wimbledon as the top seed...
ANA IVANOVIC: Well, obviously now coming especially as the top seed, lots of people, you know, just expect you to win. When you tell them, I still just want to play match by match they think it's such a cliché. You have to work hard, especially on grass. Everything is happening so fast. A lot of players can be dangerous. You have to be alerted and focused from the first point on.
Describing the pressure of being Number One...
ANA IVANOVIC: Obviously there are different ways of dealing with pressure. Becoming No. 1, it takes more pressure, but also you have to see, you know, pressure for what it is. It's a reflection of your own ambition. It's something, if you see it as a positive thing, it means that you put yourself in a position to do something memorable, that you feel pressure. So if you look at it that way it can be very motivating, yeah.
Talking about his Nike cardigan sweater for Wimbledon 2008...
ROGER FEDERER: Well, obviously, it was Nike. You know, we've been talking, what could we do? I thought two jackets also was enough. Let's move on to something a little bit different. Maybe, again, the jacket will be back against next year. I think it was just something different would be nice. We thought about something nice, like a cardigan, a jumper. I think the result is nice, as well. I have a belt as well this year. Just some new fresh things. It's nice. It's a little bit more easier to wear than the jacket, to be honest.
Commenting on her stylish Nike white trench coat...
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. You know, I absolutely love trench coats. I live in Florida. I probably have more coats than anybody. I just love coats. I'm always buying Burberry coats. I mean, I love coats. And I don't know why because I live in Florida. So it doesn't really add up. But, you know, I was talking to Nike, I walked in, had this great coat on there. We should do a coat like this for Wimbledon. I was like, Okay, cool. I was really all about it. Now I have a wonderful white coat I can wear on the court and also, you know, in New York for those rainy days... It's definitely not athletic attire. But it's ladylike, and I'm very ladylike. It goes perfect with my personality and everything else. It's perfect for me.
Talking about whether she practiced on grass in Florida as part of her Wimbledon prep...
SERENA WILLIAMS: I did not. But we practiced on hard courts, which some are very fast. It's like getting used to the fast court.
Commenting on her Nike white tuxedo-inspired short outfit...
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I do. I usually wear test it in one practice. But I usually do that like seven months before because, you know, the process takes quite a long time. I mean, I already know what I'm wearing, you know, in the fall 2009. So, you know, yeah, it's pretty far in advance because stuff has to go to retail and all that stuff... I love menswear in general. You know, I love tuxedo jackets. I love things that are actually a little bit baggier and wide. I loved when that whole wide legged pant trend kind of set in, because I love that. I'm tall and I can pull those things off. So it was fun doing it because, you know, it's hard to do things different with white. You know, there's only so much you could do. I thought, why not do shorts this year? I've never done it at a Grand Slam. You know, if there's one place to do it, it's here.
Commenting on whether he is a better grass court player this year...
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I really don't know, no? Everybody ask me the same. Last two years I played the final in Wimbledon, so is very, very difficult say I am better player. I don't know if I am better player, especially because I didn't play on grass - only one tournament. In my opinion, I am more complete player because I have more options to do, no? But I don't know if I am better player or not on grass. I think in general, yes.
Describing what she packs for her son, Jagger, when they travel on the Tour...
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: We pretty much buy a lot of toys every stop we go. It's really hard to kind of always take those with. Then we donate them at the end of our stay in a certain city. Most hotels come equipped with the basic essentials, like a bed and a high chair or stuff. Here we're renting a flat. They provided those for us. You know, we bring our own bottles and stuffed animals, stuff like that. But, yeah, it's the most stressful time, the first couple days before we leave. There's a lot of stuff I have to organize and make lists. It's like my stuff is so secondary, it's funny now that I used to complain about packing for myself.
Discussing coming back to play at Wimbledon again...
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Well, no. I mean, I wouldn't come here if I didn't think I would do really well. Obviously, if an injury comes up you have to do the best you can to try and combat that. But, no, I mean, I'm not here going, Gosh, I hope I get to the second round. That would be great. I haven't lost before the quarters here since I think '98. So, no, I have a lot of pride playing here and look to do well.
Commenting on the possible reasons for the Spanish success at Wimbledon...
JAMES BLAKE: I think it's a little bit -- I don't think the courts have slowed down as much. I'm terrible at judging that. But I think the only thing that maybe has slowed is the balls a little bit. I think they've maybe gotten a little heavier, and that's maybe helped them. But they do see Rafa and they see how well he can play. He's one of the few guys that came out and just almost stubbornly in a positive way said, I'm going to play my game with just minor adjustments. He maybe moves his serves around a little bit more, goes for a little bit more on that, but just plays his game. He's been very effective, and I think some other Spaniards get encouraged by that. Because I think it was just in their heads for many years that after the French, Okay, it's a month-long vacation. I'm going to forget about this and not care. Now that the balls have slowed down a little bit and you see a guy like Rafa having success, it's maybe making them think, All right, I can train on this for another couple weeks and maybe put up a good result here. Of course it helps that they've got some of the most talented guys in the world with Rafa, Ferrero, Almagro, Robredo, Moya, so many guys. It's just so deep that they have a lot of ability there. But I think it really helps to see one guy come through playing the way Rafa has played and give them the confidence to go after their shots and play that way, too.
Describing the net cord on match point down...
ANA IVANOVIC: I felt like time stopped for a moment because I thought I hit pretty good shot and I moved forward, so there was a momentum going forward. Then ball hit the net and it was in air for a couple of seconds. It was moving away, so I thought maybe even it will go out. Just so many thoughts at same moment. I just, you know, thought the match would be over. I felt like, you know, after that point -- you know, you have some situations through your career that you feel, you know, you lose the match, and afterwards you think, I should have done that differently. So you really want to go out and play again the match. After that point, I felt like it was a new match for me and I had a new opportunity.
Describing after she won her second round match what she needs to do to advance further at Wimbledon this year...
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think the only thing I need to do well is just stay positive and just, you know, not get down on myself and put too much pressure on me, because I tend to be a perfectionist and I want everything to go right. I think it's just really important for me to just relax and realize that not every point is going to be perfect. I think that's mostly what I need to do.
Describing how he adjusted his receiving position to return Ernests Gulbis' serve better...
RAFAEL NADAL: Sure, I changed a little bit after the first set, trying to return a little bit more behind, with the second serve especially, too. Because in the beginning I tried to play aggressive with the second serve, going inside, but was impossible. With the first, the same, and it was impossible, no? He was serving too good. The second serve, too, was very difficult. But later I go little bit behind and I felt like I had little bit more control of the situation there, no? I can play the first shot with more time, playing normal shot, but starting the point.
Commenting on whether he has inspired the recent Spanish success on grass at Wimbledon...
RAFAEL NADAL: …Before me was good players like Feliciano Lopez doing quarterfinals here. Ferrero do the fourth round here. So I don't know if I am the leader. Probably I was the first -- because Feliciano has a very good serve, very good volley. Everybody say Feliciano, he going to be a specialist on this surface. But probably I was the first who did a very good result playing normal: aggressive from the baseline, but changing a little bit the tactic. But for sure I can't play the same like clay or hard, but playing from the baseline and playing rallies, for sure playing aggressive. But I think everybody right now is trying to play similar in Spain because is our game. Our game is not going to the net. But probably in the past was a little bit mistake try to change a lot your game when you are playing on grass, no?
Commenting after her loss...
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I guess it wasn't my day. She just did everything better than I did. You know, she played much better. She hit the ball harder. She, uhm, you know, served and returned better. On grass, you know those are two important elements. You know, once you don't have a lot on the ball then your opponent can take advantage of that. Obviously she had nothing to lose. She went for her shots. I was just pretty tentative.
Commenting on what is the toughest part of being a tennis pro...
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Uhm, I mean, look, over my career, even though it's been pretty young, I still have many years ahead of me. I've had to deal with a lot of ups and a lot of downs on and off the court, and I have the experience behind me. But I think the number one thing is not be discouraged by that, not be discouraged by losses or by negative things, things here and there. You have to find a way to keep your head up even though it's pretty tough, because you put the effort in and you work hard and you dedicate yourself every single day to be a better player and a better professional. Sometimes, you know, the work doesn't pay off till you never know when. I don't know when that work's gonna pay off. I had a great off-season, came into Australia, and played really great tennis. Match in, match out, I felt great, was playing better and better. Things just worked out. Sometimes, you know, I've had experiences where I've done the same thing. I've come into a tournament and results don't just come. It's not just for me. It's for everybody. Everybody goes through it. Everybody, you know, has those moments. But, you know, I'm experienced enough to know that life goes on and that there are a lot worse things in life that can happen than losing a tennis match, even if it's at Wimbledon and even if it means a lot to me. There are a lot worse things. I still have the desire, even 30 minutes after the match, to go back on court and to get better, 'cause that's the only thing that's gonna get me to hold that plate again.
Commenting after his loss...
ANDY RODDICK: Uhm, you know, pretty distraught. But, I mean, you know, probably I don't know what I am. Uhm, probably just disappointed. You know, I literally I mean, you know, any chance I got I pretty much just choked it. So, you know, that's tough to deal with, and that's not something that you really want to do, you know. So that's probably that's disappointing, you know. It's not an easy thing to say, but it's pretty much what happened. I could sit here and try to dance around it all night, but, I mean, you guys watched it. It was what it was. It's like you want something so bad you almost squeeze too tight.
Commenting on his summer plans and his focus on trying to win the 2008 U.S. Open...
ANDY RODDICK: What's the other option, not to play at all? Then I'm in the same position I was here. I'm gonna have pressure on myself regardless. And it's not from anybody else, it's from within. You know, I want to win another slam and I want to, you know I could probably coast and not train and be a top 10 player and kind of have a cushy lifestyle and be set for as long as I need to be set for. I'm happy as I can be away from losing tennis matches. But I don't know if I'll be I don't know if that appeals to me. I don't know if I'm satisfied with that. So, you know, you do what you can and you kind of try to put yourself in that position. Historically I've played well when I've had a lot of matches going into a slam.
Explaining why he likes individual sports and tennis in particular...
ROGER FEDERER: Well, that I'm in control if I win or lose. I mean, in some ways, of course, the opponent also has some say in it, obviously. I also enjoy team sports a lot, you know. I'm not completely like the individual athlete, whatever, because I grew up, you know, doing all sorts of sports. And soccer for me, you know, celebrating the goal with the mates, was a great feeling, you know. Maybe even more exhilarating than winning on a tennis court all alone. But at the same time, I think tennis is by far my favorite sport. And, you know, having no body contact I think is also something I don't mind. So it's just better for, you know, not to get injuries through somebody who's lost his mind, let's just say, you know. So I'm happy about that. And I think the fairness is also a big factor, which I like about this game.
Describing why he has managed to be so consistent in reaching the semis and finals of Grand Slams...
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, you've got to be healthy first of all. I mean, you know, not being injured or anything. So that's a plus I have, you know, because maybe of good scheduling. I'm confident I'm doing the right things sort of off the court to keep myself healthy. Other than that, I think I know what it takes, obviously, to win slams or to go far. So I have the proper preparation. I have the belief, you know, not underestimating any opponents in any way. Then I got many different possibilities, you know, in my game that allow me to beat all sort of different kinds of playing styles. It's not enough just beating the aggressive baseliner, you've got to beat the guy, the counter puncher, the serve and volleyer if there is, the lefty, the righty. I think that's the difficult part, you know, to be able to have a game that adapts to any playing style. That's what I've been able to create over the last few years. Obviously, the record is great, to be so consistent at the highest level, and this is what I always sort of dreamt of. When I came on tour, everybody was telling me, He's a good player on any given day, but he's not very consistent. You know, so that was sort of my dream: to be consistent. I took it to the next level, which is obviously very, very nice for me.
Describing her ideal man...
SERENA WILLIAMS: Gosh, I would have to say someone who is really close with their mom, because I think that builds a good relationship with me. That's just what my mom said. And, uhm, someone that's nice and you can dance with and laugh with. I think that's really important, because I laugh a lot.
Commenting after her loss about adjusting her play to the grass courts...
ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, I think it takes time. Because especially after clay, it's completely different game. I had some time off, so I didn't have too much time to practice and to do all these little specific movements and things you need to in order to adjust to the grass. Especially you have to accept that not every shot you're going to hit it's going to be, you know, perfect. There's going to be quite a few, you know, bad bounces. That's something I found, you know, a little bit hard to deal with. And also coming from clay, it's completely different mentality you have to have going on court. Because on clay, if you struggling a little bit, you still have time to get into the game. But here everything is happening so fast. You really have to be there from the first point on, and that's something, you know, that I found it hard. You know, especially today. She was hitting ball fast and flat. I didn't have enough time to, you know, get into my game.
Describing her feelings after her loss...
ANA IVANOVIC: Trust me, it's not easy to lose. Obviously, no, I had some time to calm down also after the match. Because I think every loss is disappointing, especially you work hard over achieving some things and then you go out there. But you also have to realize that the world won't end. You know, I'm still so young and have many tournaments in front of me. You know, these things make you learn that you still have room to improve, and, you know, areas can you improve on. So, you know, sometimes you need a punch to realize what you have to work on.
Explaining what she likes about singles versus doubles...
VENUS WILLIAMS: What I enjoy most about the singles is all the room that you have. In singles, even if I hit not the best shot, I'm pretty confident I'm going to run down that next shot. On the run, I feel like I'm just as good as standing still. In doubles you don't have as much space. If you don't hit the best shot you're in trouble. Put your partner in trouble, too. So I think that's probably the biggest challenge.
Explaining what he likes about playing singles...
RAFAEL NADAL: I like the competition in all aspects, no? I like to compete in everything. The tennis is a big competition because you play alone against another one, so is nice competition. And I love the competition in all aspects.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. You know, I absolutely love trench coats. I live in Florida. I probably have more coats than anybody. I just love coats. I'm always buying Burberry coats. I mean, I love coats. And I don't know why because I live in Florida. So it doesn't really add up. But, you know, I was talking to Nike, I walked in, had this great coat on there. We should do a coat like this for Wimbledon. I was like, Okay, cool. I was really all about it. Now I have a wonderful white coat I can wear on the court and also, you know, in New York for those rainy days... It's definitely not athletic attire. But it's ladylike, and I'm very ladylike. It goes perfect with my personality and everything else. It's perfect for me.
Talking about whether she practiced on grass in Florida as part of her Wimbledon prep...
SERENA WILLIAMS: I did not. But we practiced on hard courts, which some are very fast. It's like getting used to the fast court.
Commenting on her Nike white tuxedo-inspired short outfit...
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I do. I usually wear test it in one practice. But I usually do that like seven months before because, you know, the process takes quite a long time. I mean, I already know what I'm wearing, you know, in the fall 2009. So, you know, yeah, it's pretty far in advance because stuff has to go to retail and all that stuff... I love menswear in general. You know, I love tuxedo jackets. I love things that are actually a little bit baggier and wide. I loved when that whole wide legged pant trend kind of set in, because I love that. I'm tall and I can pull those things off. So it was fun doing it because, you know, it's hard to do things different with white. You know, there's only so much you could do. I thought, why not do shorts this year? I've never done it at a Grand Slam. You know, if there's one place to do it, it's here.
Commenting on whether he is a better grass court player this year...
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I really don't know, no? Everybody ask me the same. Last two years I played the final in Wimbledon, so is very, very difficult say I am better player. I don't know if I am better player, especially because I didn't play on grass - only one tournament. In my opinion, I am more complete player because I have more options to do, no? But I don't know if I am better player or not on grass. I think in general, yes.
Describing what she packs for her son, Jagger, when they travel on the Tour...
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: We pretty much buy a lot of toys every stop we go. It's really hard to kind of always take those with. Then we donate them at the end of our stay in a certain city. Most hotels come equipped with the basic essentials, like a bed and a high chair or stuff. Here we're renting a flat. They provided those for us. You know, we bring our own bottles and stuffed animals, stuff like that. But, yeah, it's the most stressful time, the first couple days before we leave. There's a lot of stuff I have to organize and make lists. It's like my stuff is so secondary, it's funny now that I used to complain about packing for myself.
Discussing coming back to play at Wimbledon again...
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Well, no. I mean, I wouldn't come here if I didn't think I would do really well. Obviously, if an injury comes up you have to do the best you can to try and combat that. But, no, I mean, I'm not here going, Gosh, I hope I get to the second round. That would be great. I haven't lost before the quarters here since I think '98. So, no, I have a lot of pride playing here and look to do well.
Commenting on the possible reasons for the Spanish success at Wimbledon...
JAMES BLAKE: I think it's a little bit -- I don't think the courts have slowed down as much. I'm terrible at judging that. But I think the only thing that maybe has slowed is the balls a little bit. I think they've maybe gotten a little heavier, and that's maybe helped them. But they do see Rafa and they see how well he can play. He's one of the few guys that came out and just almost stubbornly in a positive way said, I'm going to play my game with just minor adjustments. He maybe moves his serves around a little bit more, goes for a little bit more on that, but just plays his game. He's been very effective, and I think some other Spaniards get encouraged by that. Because I think it was just in their heads for many years that after the French, Okay, it's a month-long vacation. I'm going to forget about this and not care. Now that the balls have slowed down a little bit and you see a guy like Rafa having success, it's maybe making them think, All right, I can train on this for another couple weeks and maybe put up a good result here. Of course it helps that they've got some of the most talented guys in the world with Rafa, Ferrero, Almagro, Robredo, Moya, so many guys. It's just so deep that they have a lot of ability there. But I think it really helps to see one guy come through playing the way Rafa has played and give them the confidence to go after their shots and play that way, too.
Describing the net cord on match point down...
ANA IVANOVIC: I felt like time stopped for a moment because I thought I hit pretty good shot and I moved forward, so there was a momentum going forward. Then ball hit the net and it was in air for a couple of seconds. It was moving away, so I thought maybe even it will go out. Just so many thoughts at same moment. I just, you know, thought the match would be over. I felt like, you know, after that point -- you know, you have some situations through your career that you feel, you know, you lose the match, and afterwards you think, I should have done that differently. So you really want to go out and play again the match. After that point, I felt like it was a new match for me and I had a new opportunity.
Describing after she won her second round match what she needs to do to advance further at Wimbledon this year...
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think the only thing I need to do well is just stay positive and just, you know, not get down on myself and put too much pressure on me, because I tend to be a perfectionist and I want everything to go right. I think it's just really important for me to just relax and realize that not every point is going to be perfect. I think that's mostly what I need to do.
Describing how he adjusted his receiving position to return Ernests Gulbis' serve better...
RAFAEL NADAL: Sure, I changed a little bit after the first set, trying to return a little bit more behind, with the second serve especially, too. Because in the beginning I tried to play aggressive with the second serve, going inside, but was impossible. With the first, the same, and it was impossible, no? He was serving too good. The second serve, too, was very difficult. But later I go little bit behind and I felt like I had little bit more control of the situation there, no? I can play the first shot with more time, playing normal shot, but starting the point.
Commenting on whether he has inspired the recent Spanish success on grass at Wimbledon...
RAFAEL NADAL: …Before me was good players like Feliciano Lopez doing quarterfinals here. Ferrero do the fourth round here. So I don't know if I am the leader. Probably I was the first -- because Feliciano has a very good serve, very good volley. Everybody say Feliciano, he going to be a specialist on this surface. But probably I was the first who did a very good result playing normal: aggressive from the baseline, but changing a little bit the tactic. But for sure I can't play the same like clay or hard, but playing from the baseline and playing rallies, for sure playing aggressive. But I think everybody right now is trying to play similar in Spain because is our game. Our game is not going to the net. But probably in the past was a little bit mistake try to change a lot your game when you are playing on grass, no?
Commenting after her loss...
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I guess it wasn't my day. She just did everything better than I did. You know, she played much better. She hit the ball harder. She, uhm, you know, served and returned better. On grass, you know those are two important elements. You know, once you don't have a lot on the ball then your opponent can take advantage of that. Obviously she had nothing to lose. She went for her shots. I was just pretty tentative.
Commenting on what is the toughest part of being a tennis pro...
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Uhm, I mean, look, over my career, even though it's been pretty young, I still have many years ahead of me. I've had to deal with a lot of ups and a lot of downs on and off the court, and I have the experience behind me. But I think the number one thing is not be discouraged by that, not be discouraged by losses or by negative things, things here and there. You have to find a way to keep your head up even though it's pretty tough, because you put the effort in and you work hard and you dedicate yourself every single day to be a better player and a better professional. Sometimes, you know, the work doesn't pay off till you never know when. I don't know when that work's gonna pay off. I had a great off-season, came into Australia, and played really great tennis. Match in, match out, I felt great, was playing better and better. Things just worked out. Sometimes, you know, I've had experiences where I've done the same thing. I've come into a tournament and results don't just come. It's not just for me. It's for everybody. Everybody goes through it. Everybody, you know, has those moments. But, you know, I'm experienced enough to know that life goes on and that there are a lot worse things in life that can happen than losing a tennis match, even if it's at Wimbledon and even if it means a lot to me. There are a lot worse things. I still have the desire, even 30 minutes after the match, to go back on court and to get better, 'cause that's the only thing that's gonna get me to hold that plate again.
Commenting after his loss...
ANDY RODDICK: Uhm, you know, pretty distraught. But, I mean, you know, probably I don't know what I am. Uhm, probably just disappointed. You know, I literally I mean, you know, any chance I got I pretty much just choked it. So, you know, that's tough to deal with, and that's not something that you really want to do, you know. So that's probably that's disappointing, you know. It's not an easy thing to say, but it's pretty much what happened. I could sit here and try to dance around it all night, but, I mean, you guys watched it. It was what it was. It's like you want something so bad you almost squeeze too tight.
Commenting on his summer plans and his focus on trying to win the 2008 U.S. Open...
ANDY RODDICK: What's the other option, not to play at all? Then I'm in the same position I was here. I'm gonna have pressure on myself regardless. And it's not from anybody else, it's from within. You know, I want to win another slam and I want to, you know I could probably coast and not train and be a top 10 player and kind of have a cushy lifestyle and be set for as long as I need to be set for. I'm happy as I can be away from losing tennis matches. But I don't know if I'll be I don't know if that appeals to me. I don't know if I'm satisfied with that. So, you know, you do what you can and you kind of try to put yourself in that position. Historically I've played well when I've had a lot of matches going into a slam.
Explaining why he likes individual sports and tennis in particular...
ROGER FEDERER: Well, that I'm in control if I win or lose. I mean, in some ways, of course, the opponent also has some say in it, obviously. I also enjoy team sports a lot, you know. I'm not completely like the individual athlete, whatever, because I grew up, you know, doing all sorts of sports. And soccer for me, you know, celebrating the goal with the mates, was a great feeling, you know. Maybe even more exhilarating than winning on a tennis court all alone. But at the same time, I think tennis is by far my favorite sport. And, you know, having no body contact I think is also something I don't mind. So it's just better for, you know, not to get injuries through somebody who's lost his mind, let's just say, you know. So I'm happy about that. And I think the fairness is also a big factor, which I like about this game.
Describing why he has managed to be so consistent in reaching the semis and finals of Grand Slams...
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, you've got to be healthy first of all. I mean, you know, not being injured or anything. So that's a plus I have, you know, because maybe of good scheduling. I'm confident I'm doing the right things sort of off the court to keep myself healthy. Other than that, I think I know what it takes, obviously, to win slams or to go far. So I have the proper preparation. I have the belief, you know, not underestimating any opponents in any way. Then I got many different possibilities, you know, in my game that allow me to beat all sort of different kinds of playing styles. It's not enough just beating the aggressive baseliner, you've got to beat the guy, the counter puncher, the serve and volleyer if there is, the lefty, the righty. I think that's the difficult part, you know, to be able to have a game that adapts to any playing style. That's what I've been able to create over the last few years. Obviously, the record is great, to be so consistent at the highest level, and this is what I always sort of dreamt of. When I came on tour, everybody was telling me, He's a good player on any given day, but he's not very consistent. You know, so that was sort of my dream: to be consistent. I took it to the next level, which is obviously very, very nice for me.
Describing her ideal man...
SERENA WILLIAMS: Gosh, I would have to say someone who is really close with their mom, because I think that builds a good relationship with me. That's just what my mom said. And, uhm, someone that's nice and you can dance with and laugh with. I think that's really important, because I laugh a lot.
Commenting after her loss about adjusting her play to the grass courts...
ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, I think it takes time. Because especially after clay, it's completely different game. I had some time off, so I didn't have too much time to practice and to do all these little specific movements and things you need to in order to adjust to the grass. Especially you have to accept that not every shot you're going to hit it's going to be, you know, perfect. There's going to be quite a few, you know, bad bounces. That's something I found, you know, a little bit hard to deal with. And also coming from clay, it's completely different mentality you have to have going on court. Because on clay, if you struggling a little bit, you still have time to get into the game. But here everything is happening so fast. You really have to be there from the first point on, and that's something, you know, that I found it hard. You know, especially today. She was hitting ball fast and flat. I didn't have enough time to, you know, get into my game.
Describing her feelings after her loss...
ANA IVANOVIC: Trust me, it's not easy to lose. Obviously, no, I had some time to calm down also after the match. Because I think every loss is disappointing, especially you work hard over achieving some things and then you go out there. But you also have to realize that the world won't end. You know, I'm still so young and have many tournaments in front of me. You know, these things make you learn that you still have room to improve, and, you know, areas can you improve on. So, you know, sometimes you need a punch to realize what you have to work on.
Explaining what she likes about singles versus doubles...
VENUS WILLIAMS: What I enjoy most about the singles is all the room that you have. In singles, even if I hit not the best shot, I'm pretty confident I'm going to run down that next shot. On the run, I feel like I'm just as good as standing still. In doubles you don't have as much space. If you don't hit the best shot you're in trouble. Put your partner in trouble, too. So I think that's probably the biggest challenge.
Explaining what he likes about playing singles...
RAFAEL NADAL: I like the competition in all aspects, no? I like to compete in everything. The tennis is a big competition because you play alone against another one, so is nice competition. And I love the competition in all aspects.
|
