Quotes from the 2008 U.S. Open Interview Room - Week One
Selected comments from the players’ post-match press conferences during the first week of the 2008 U.S. Open...
Talking about whether being Number One has affected his goals at all…
RAFAEL NADAL: Doesn't matter for me, no. Not the truth, believe me. I have the same goal - play now same as I was No. 2. When I was No. 2 I was very happy. I'm very motivate to play tournament, not for play tournament, for be No. 1. You understand me now? I have the same goal. Right now I try to play very good tournament for win the US Open, no? When I was No. 2, the goal was the same, was win the US Open, but the goal wasn't win the US Open for be No. 1. The goal is win US Open, no?
Talking about what makes the U.S. Open unique…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think it's entertainment, the show. I think Americans really know how to do it, and everybody who gets here has a lot of things to do. It's really interesting so for the fans. And even for the players, you know, to be in the biggest stadium in sports, and to play, you know, primetime, you know, last year I played a couple of matches. So it was one of the best feelings I had, you know, stepping in the court in the finals match when, you know, 23,000 people stood up and, then, you know, applause. It's really nice. They appreciate what you're doing, and they really enjoy. So it's a pleasure, and big entertainment.
Describing the impact winning a Grand Slam has on your game and confidence…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It gives you, as I said, relief and confidence. It gives you a belief that when you find yourself in that certain important moments when you just need to come up with something good and something special and just try to be calm and hold your nerves. That's what happens when you have experience with winning Grand Slams, you know. That's why Roger and Rafa are so dominant and they look so good on the court when they have these important matches, important moments. They're really calm and they know what to do. This is what I'm still trying to do, and I think it's getting -- it's getting in a good way.
Describing what it means to be ranked Number One…
JELENA JANKOVIC: … it means a lot to me, because especially after having, you know, a tough year, I've been struggling, I haven't been able to train the way I want to, I haven't been in my best form, and to reach in the No. 1 spot is amazing. And it's something that will stay in my record, in my biography for the rest of my life. And nobody can take that away from me. And I'm only the 18th player to achieve that. So it's a huge achievement, and I'm really proud to join a selection of great champions. But of course I want to keep developing my game, keep improving, but in order to do that, it's very -- the priority is to be healthy, and I haven't been healthy throughout almost the whole year. So it's very tough to be at your best game, at your top level, but, you know, I will try my best, you know, for the hopefully for the rest of the season. If, I hope, I pray to God just to stay the way I am now and then I can work on my game and try to get better and better each day.
Describing what it feels like to be seeded Number Two…
ROGER FEDERER: …Look at the draw maybe a little bit different. I have to start from the bottom, but that's okay. I think it would change if I were seeded three or four, because then you don't know what section you're going to be in. One or two is always pretty much the same thing. No, the change I feel is fans are really supporting me and telling me I'm still No. 1 and still the best, You're going to be there again and stuff. So I feel like I've got unbelievable support from the fans watching me and seeing people in the streets and stuff. It's kind of really nice.
Describing his reaction to the standing ovation he received on the opening night of the U.S. Open when the champions from the past 40 years were introduced…
ROGER FEDERER: Look, you never know what kind of a reception you're going to get, especially like last night being next to so many other legends and champions and people that inspired me as a player, as a person, and then also people who were so influential in the game, you know. And then to walk out and almost get a bigger roar than them, it's almost a little bit uneasy. At the same time it's very nice, and I appreciate it very much, especially not being an American. We shouldn't forget that, that they're supposed to scream for the Americans here. I guess I'm very close to their hearts by now. Took me a while to maybe win over the American crowds, but I had an incredible amount of success over here. Winning the Masters a couple of times, US Open four times in a row, every other American tournament I entered I was able to win in the past. I think just playing so many great matches here on center court and the finals with Agassi, you know, coming through that tough crowd for instance. I think people saw how much I loved playing the game and how much I love playing here, that this is maybe like a payback for me, a great reception. And also again tonight, excitement seeing me play and also wanting me to do well again and winning the big ones. I think they really tried to push me forward, which was really helpful.
Describing the differences between the four Grand Slams…
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I think all the Slams are very different. I think the Australian Open starting off, you know, with a bang really. I mean, couple tournaments and right away we have a Grand Slam. I really enjoy going to the Australian Open. It's a really far trip, but it just seems more quiet because you don't have that many guests around for everybody. It's a little bit more calm in the locker room and the lounges and everything. The fans are great. They love tennis over there. Every time I go on court anyway it's full, so that's nice. There's such a huge hype coming into the clay court season that the French Open is like this big tournament on clay that everybody just comes to, and it's sold out also weeks ahead. You feel that the grounds are so packed. It's quite an experience. And then obviously Wimbledon and the US Open make it unique itself. I think night session here is one of those special moments in tennis, and so is Wimbledon with the tradition. I think those really make the four majors very unique. But I think ‑‑ let's not also forget during the year we have a great tour with the ATP. I really also enjoy those tournaments. They're unique themselves as well. But I'm very well aware that the majors at the moment have a very big focus.
Describing why she seems to play so well at Wimbledon…
VENUS WILLIAMS: I don't know. I can't even figure it out. I started thinking about that this year, especially with No. 5. I started thinking, Why is it that my first serve percentage is at least in the 60s at Wimbledon, and all this great stuff. But I don't know. Just maybe it's the love of my life. That's probably what it is.
Talking about if she ever lacks confidence…
SERENA WILLIAMS: No. I'm definitely mortal. And, yeah, I do struggle with self-doubt. Sometimes when I'm in a match I do get tight and I get nervous. You know, I think the difference with seeing some great players is they can work through that. I always try to think of like, you know, current players that can work through that, like Nadal and Federer. I'll be like, okay, if they can do it I can do it too. So it takes me out of that moment.
Commenting on her play after her first round victory…
ANA IVANOVIC: …actually, I'm very, very happy, because just to be here and to be able to compete, for me, it's already a great achievement. I'm just so thrilled to be here and to have the opportunity to play, because after the Olympics it was obviously very disappointing. Since Montreal I haven't had chance to practice. I only started practicing this Monday (a week ago). So with so much in practice, I thought I did pretty well. When I went first on the court, I was very excited and I started to play really well. Obviously lack of practice showed off a little bit later, but just so thrilled to have an opportunity to slowly get into tournament and improve.
Describing her emotions during the summer with her thumb injury, etc.
ANA IVANOVIC: It was very disappointing. Obviously I was very motivated after I had holidays after Wimbledon, and I was really motivated to start working hard and to get my form back and to compete. I think I started too fast and too much, and I got obviously injured. Since then, it was really frustrating, because I haven't really been able to practice as much as I want, and obviously frustration was building up. And I was so much looking forward to Olympics, and very excited to compete there. When I had to pull out, it was probably one of the hardest days of my career so far. So, you know, to go from there and then to come here and to compete and just, you know, to be able to compete at 100% and without pain, it's already a great achievement for me.
Explaining the decision for his brother, John, to no longer travel as his coach…
ANDY RODDICK: We just met in Washington afterwards, and, you know, I think John's, he's been feeling the effects of the road for a little while. When we first got together, it was temporary, you know. And he was kind of just helping me out and was going to help, and then all of a sudden it's two-and-a-half years later. I think he was spent, and I was struggling, and so it was a very -- it was an easy conversation, you know. He was just like, "I'm kind of tapped," and it's pretty intense day to day, and I'm pretty intense day to day. It's probably not the easiest. But he's been here the whole time, and we've been hanging out, so it's not too big of a deal, and we'll always be brothers. It wasn't a long, drawn out, dramatic conversation. It was something he got to before I did.
Explaining why he chose Patrick McEnroe to help him as a coach during the U.S. Open…
ANDY RODDICK: Well, it was basically what are we going to do on short notice? I'm not going to go with someone that I don't know. I know Patrick's just more than busy with the Davis Cup captain and taking over everything, but I figured if someone who knew my game, knew my personality, and so it was -- I think it was pretty obvious who would be the best fit to help me out for this, just this tournament.
Describing what’s different between his game in 2008 and when he won the U.S. Open in 2003…
ANDY RODDICK: It's probably just confidence. You know, when I've been playing well this year, I think before I got hurt I was doing fine, and I was competing week in and week out and putting up results, and winning the matches I should. I think the biggest thing is when you're confident, you win even when you feel you're not playing well. You see guys do it a lot. That's the thing that just comes with matches and winning matches, and unfortunately, I haven't been doing that in the last couple of months. You know, but it has been nice this week to actually prepare and work on stuff without being hurt. I've kind of been going from injured reserve straight into a tournament pretty regularly, and that's been a little bit of a habit, which is not an easy way to go about it. I feel a little bit more prepared, probably, than I have been for most of the events.
Talking about why he likes the U.S. Open…
ANDY MURRAY: I've just always loved being in America. I think the people here are very upbeat. You know, they're always have been really helpful and I love the courts. And also the atmosphere, it's just a bit different to all the other Slams. I enjoyed playing here as a junior. It was the first time I stayed in a five‑star hotel, and, you know, I really enjoyed the way I got treated as juniors here, and it's been my favorite tournament since then.
Explaining why he’s taking photos…
ANDY MURRAY: Yeah, got a camera, it's from a charity called "Right to Play." A lot of the athletes had the cameras in Beijing and you basically, you take pictures and charity takes your best 10 pictures at the end of the year and auctions them off and the money goes to the charities. So I'm just trying to get some different ones.
Describing when and why his attitude has changed when he enters tournaments now…
ANDY MURRAY: It was the start of this year in Doha. You know, I spent about four or five weeks out in Florida training. That means being away from your family for obviously that period of time when, you know, you could be at home, you know, training in really hot conditions and, you know, going in the gym a couple of times a day, you sort of -- it's a complete waste of time going on the court and, you know, finding reasons why you might lose the match and what have you. You know, you just go out there and fight for every single point, because, you know, that's a complete waste of time putting the work in if you're not going to use it out on the court. And it's really been the first time early this year when I felt really good going on the court physically, and it's something that, you know, it's nice to sort of show that you're in great shape, because I think it sends a message to the other players.
Talking about whether he now feels impatient to win his second Grand Slam title since winning the Australian Open in January…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No. I just want to go slowly, step by step. I was saying even before, there is a lot of pressure involved and a lot of expectations, but it's all part of the sport, and you just have to deal with it in the best possible way. And I know I play well on all surfaces; I'm an all-around player. I've been playing my best tennis on all the major events and on the Grand Slams which is the most important thing, so I'll try to keep that up.
Talking about playing his good friend, Mardy Fish, in the next round…
JAMES BLAKE: I think it's going to be fine. It's great. We're close enough friends, so no matter what happens on Saturday or Sunday, whenever we play, we're going to be friends afterwards. If we play this time of the day, afterwards there's a good chance we'll be out to dinner together, all our groups. I'm sure we'll make some sort of a deal where the winner will have to pay. But we'll be friends afterwards. I'll still be in his wedding in a couple of months, and I don't think anything -- I don't think anything's going to change between us, except one of us will be through to the fourth round and the other one will be on a plane back to Tampa.
Describing the pressure he feels playing at the U.S. Open…
JAMES BLAKE: Yeah, it is different than any other tournament, and different in a very positive way. This is the tournament at the beginning of the year I circle on my calendar I wasn't to peak for. I want to do as well as I possibly can at the US Open, because like you said, there is added pressure. For me, the pressure is a synonym for opportunity. I feel like if you're doing something without any pressure, you're probably doing something a lot of people don't care about or you're doing something that's easy. Nothing I'm doing out there is easy. I've worked hard to get here, and I'm proud to be in that position with pressure. I've always talked to my coach about the fact that as the matches get bigger and bigger, the wins and the losses, the wins mean more, the losses sting more. That means you are dealing with a lot more pressure and you've done a lot to get there and you've earned that. It's an opportunity to do something great. That's the way I feel coming in here.
Explaining why she’s improved this year…
DINARA SAFINA: Well, I guess a little bit of everything, but I think also on the court, I'm much more aggressive than I used to be. I've been working a lot on every shot. Then also physically, I think I also spend lots of attention on this, because for me I think this is the key of my game. If I'm faster, it helps me to play my game, to be aggressive on the court, to come and get better for the shots. Now I have tennis coach and fitness coach. They are working together to get me better, so now I guess I have team that works for me.
Explaining why her coach has been so helpful…
DINARA SAFINA: He was also a player, so he knows exactly how I feel. For me it's easier to communicate. I found a person I can trust, and I can say, Okay, I'm getting nervous. At least he knows what is these feelings nervous. It's not somebody who never played. He cannot get exactly these feelings what you can feel on the court. So with these kinds of things he helps me also to control my emotions. Okay, I never seen him play. Actually we played one year the same year, but I never seen him play. But he said that I'm on the court exactly like him. So I guess he knows what I was going through or what I'm going through some moments on the court. He tries to help me, so I think this is the good thing that he understands me.
Describing how she feels about her game after her second round win…
AMÉLIE MAURESMO: It's on the way. It's not quite there yet. Taking the example of the first set that I played today. But I'm enjoying myself more on the court. I'm having a little bit more adrenaline out there. So it's a good start for something better. As it showed in the second and third set today. So I had pretty good tournament last week in New Haven the way I played. And really again, really enjoying myself. So it's some positive things. But yeah, the level is better, but it's not quite where I would love it for now. But I would say it's on the way I hope.
Commenting after being upset by Julie Coin if she felt pressure playing as the Number One seed at the U.S. Open…
ANA IVANOVIC: No. I see that as reward because, you know, I think I deserve that position. You know, I won a Grand Slam and I was playing really well. Obviously if you would ask me at the moment if I'm playing like No. 1 probably not, but I can't judge too much on that because I really haven't had chance to practice. This kind of loss I had today is just incentive to work harder, to go back on the court and to keep working hard and practicing and improving. Because I think I have possibility to maintain No. 1 for a long time and to win a Grand Slam. So I just had a little, you know, unfortunate with injury, and I just have to go back on the court and keep working hard.
Comparing Ana Ivanovic’s situation as a new Number One to his own situation as the Number One ranked player…
RAFAEL NADAL: I think it is different case of Ana and me. Ana is probably -- last year she start doing very well; this year she is continuing doing very well, no? So she played the final of Australia, she did very well in Roland Garros. After one win like this, like in Roland Garros, after your first Grand Slam title, the normal thing is going a little bit down, no? I think it's not for the No. 1, because you feel alive. I don't know. You feel a little bit alive when you win your first Grand Slam, so that's normal for her. But I think she's very good and she going to continuing doing very well.
Commenting on the new ATP Tour tournament schedule starting in 2009…
RAFAEL NADAL: I think it's for sure better than this year, no? Well, was easy to do better than this year, no? But sure is better than this year. I think, you know, the biggest problem always is the same: It's the European clay season. It's always put there Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Rome straight. That's unbelievable, no? So that's very tough for play for the European players, and for the clay court specialist players. I'm not talking about me only, no? I'm talking about all the Spanish and all the South American. So it's very tough, no? But, you know, the biggest problem on tour is always the same: Indian Wells and Miami for one month.
Describing his current coaching situation…
ROGER FEDERER: Um, well, José's here, you know, for Robby. For the tournament I had the preparation week for José, but he tries to see my matches and practices as much as he can. It happened that me and Robby were playing at the same time, so I don't know if José is going to stick around. But. I have my Davis Cup captain here as well Switzerland, and I've been doing the entire year anyway with him already. So that's the situation here.
Describing the difference in conditions playing at night versus during the day…
ROGER FEDERER: No, I feel good in both. I have no preference. Of course, there's days, you know, you're like maybe next match you'd rather play at night. You can sleep in and have more time. Depends a little bit, you know, the scheduling. But I don't feel superior in the day session or the night sessions. There's always usually more wind during the day. So I think that was good I got used to the wind actually today, because in Beijing there was zero wind, you know, for like two weeks. Took me a little bit of adjustment, even though in practice there was wind, you know. But in match situations it's different. You can't just, you know, play your normal way. You have to play with the wind a little bit, and today maybe I struggled at times a little bit.
Describing how he was able to come back and beat Ernests Gulbis in the second round…
ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. You know, I guess one thing that no one will dispute is that I pretty much leave it out there every time, and if I lose, it's not for lack of effort. You know, nights like tonight sometimes it's beneficial. You know, when he steps up and is hitting his shots, he hits so hard there's not a lot you can do. He literally just cracks the ball. I just tried sticking around and mixed up the paces a little bit. Tried to make him hit shots that I thought might be less comfortable for him. You know, somehow I got the momentum going my way.
Describing his feelings playing in Arthur Ashe Stadium…
ANDY RODDICK: …One thing I've said I have over 95% of the players in this tournament is playing in that atmosphere, I'm totally comfortable playing in that atmosphere. I like it, and tonight when people are dancing in the stands, you know, I love that. I'm having a blast out there, even watching it. You know, I'm not intimidated by that stadium. I've been there plenty of times, and, you know, it's probably a stadium that takes the most getting used to the first time. The wind is a little bit different in there. The atmosphere is a little crazier with the New York crowd, so that's something that is advantageous for me.
Describing his attitude on the court…
GÄEL MONFILS: I mean, I'm me. I mean, like I love to show my emotion. I love to do a show, because when I was 9, 11, to play in front of a lot of people it's like for me something amazing. So like I do it for me. It's fun. You know, I have to show them I am enjoying on the court, you know, I enjoy my sport. And then they show me emotion, so it's great.
Explaining why he flexed his “popeye” muscles after coming back from two sets down and winning his five set match against Jurgen Meltzer…
ANDY MURRAY: There are a lot of different emotions going through your head. When you're training and wondering why you do all the work and feeling sorry for yourself and what have you, and you kind of push through and keep working. Then when you have moments like that on the court, you know, you feel like it's all worth it. It's sort of more a sign to my fitness trainers and the team that's around me. They've seen everything I've done off the court and, you know, it's a lot of the results that I've had in the long matches have come down to them helping me out and making me do the right things and making sure I'm working hard.
Explaining her attitude at the 2008 U.S. Open…
VENUS WILLIAMS: Yeah. I mean, I think that definitely the Wimbledon win helped me a lot to change my mentality, to realize not every thing had to be perfect all the time. That's helped me to, you know -- if I don't have a perfect practice and I don't get really upset about the whole tournament. Now if I don't have a perfect practice, I know I can play. I think that helps me to relax, so I think a lot of it has to do with playing well at Wimbledon.
Describing whether she’d prefer to be playing a team sport…
VENUS WILLIAMS: No, I like running it solo. If I have to play, I want to play with Serena doubles, because you can't loose with her. I definitely like -- the part I like about tennis is that you work the hardest and you can choose to get better, and you can mold yourself into a champion. Even if you aren't the best, you can watch someone else and do that and get better. So it's definitely wonderful to have that chance to control your own destiny.
Commenting on whether she wished Venus weren’t playing because then she might have won more titles…
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I don't think I'd have as many because she motivated me, especially being young and watching her play. I was able to -- the mistakes she made, I made them with her. So when I actually played, I didn't make the mistakes that she made. I was able to grow with her on the sidelines, so to say. Also, she motivates me. When she became No. 1, I suddenly got motivated to be there, too. If anything, I think she definitely helped my career.
Commenting on her current goals…
AMÉLIE MAURESMO: My goals, as I was saying yesterday, are not so much in terms of ranking. It's more in terms of being able to be in the second week or final spots in the Grand Slams. That's really what I'm looking for and that's what I'm hoping I can still achieve. Because rankings -- yeah, it's better to have a better ranking than I have now, but I know I'm not going to -- probably not going to be able physically to compete for the No. 1 spot, so it's not really a big thing for me. But the main thing is definitely the big events.
Explaining, after his loss to Mardy Fish, how his J-Block “fan club” started…
JAMES BLAKE: These are some of my best friends, that I'll probably go to right now, and they're the ones probably the only people in the word, them and my mom, that are going to be able to console me right now and put a smile on my face somehow I'm sure. They were guys around in 2004 when I wasn't feeling great. When I didn't know if I would play tennis again, they were the ones cooking me dinner and playing cards with me and getting me out of house and trying to make me smile. In 2005 when I was coming back in New Haven, so close to where I grew up, they all wanted to come watch. Anne Worcester decided at the Pilot Pen that she wanted to give them a name for the hundred ticket requests that I was giving her every day. She came up with the J Block. That's where it started. That year I had a great run and made the finals and won that tournament. Then came here and made the quarterfinals, and had the match with Andre Agassi that was somewhat memorable. They were here for every single one. I don't know, it seems like when I was the underdog everyone was very positive about them. Now when I'm a favorite it seems like people are sometimes down on them. A lot people forget they're doing this for charity. They're my best friends and people that care about me. If I care about someone and seeing someone doing what they love, and if they need some sort of motivational support, I'm going to do my best to give it to them. That's what they're doing for me, and I would never fault them for anything like that. They were there at tough times, and I'm so proud they enjoy my good times. When I do have tough times, they're going to be right there - I guarantee you - when I walk out of the stadium to cheer me up.
Commenting on playing his friend, James Blake, and what it’s like to know his opponent’s game well…
MARDY FISH: …I think -- I mean, that could go both ways, because he knows my game extremely well, too. James is the type of player that doesn't necessarily play the opponent, he plays his game and let's people adapt to what he does. You know, he's a first-strike-type player. Likes to play quick. Likes to serve and hit the forehands big. You know, to try to disrupt that is extremely hard. You know, you got to try to get it to his backhand as much as you can. We've practiced a ton, yeah. You know, we know each other's tendencies pretty well. It can almost go the opposite way knowing somebody's game almost too good.
Discussing how being engaged to be married in September has affected him on the tennis court…
MARDY FISH: I mean, I think that, you know, happiness off the court translates to, you know, clear-mindedness. Is that even a word? It's a -- things -- we've done a lot of things to keep my mind off the tennis court. We did the seating chart for the wedding a couple days ago. You know, just something that I'm not used to doing. I might be watching Sports Center or ESPN or something like that if she wasn't around, so there's -- it's much different and much calmer. I don't go out. I mean, I don't leave my hotel room very much anymore, except for maybe to go to dinner every now and then. We just enjoy each other's company a ton and she's a huge help, as well.
Explaining why she think Nick Bollettieri’s Academy in Bradenton, Florida, has produced so many successful players…
JELENA JANKOVIC: I think it's going to his academy overall makes you quite strong mentally, because you're there to compete with all of these players that want to succeed, that want to be the best that they can be. So there is -- you learn how to compete from a really early age. You're battling at the back courts. It doesn't matter you're playing against a skinny player, a fat player, a tall player, big, whoever. Doesn't matter even the age. You're playing against anybody, and this teaches you how to really play the game, because it's not the same just practicing. Anybody can practice. But, you know, to be a good professional, to be a competitor, you need to go out there and really battle it out over there. That's what I learned over there. That's what made me, you know -- that's how I came here. And also, of course, receiving instructions from the coaches. There is a another side of the story, of course. You're improving your technical things in your game and developing different parts, as well.
Commenting on whether he is trying to send a message to other players at the U.S. Open by his play in the early rounds…
ROGER FEDERER: Not really. It's good for me, you know, to not waste any energy. I'm playing well and moving on in the draw. At the end of the day, what counts is winning the tournament. And anyway, you forget who you beat, how you won. You forget all the unforced errors you made, and all anybody's going to talk about is the finals. That's how I look at things. I don't try to impress anybody in the early rounds. If it happens, that's great. I don't really care that much.
Commenting on whether he ever really felt down after the losses this year…
ROGER FEDERER: I never felt terrible, to be honest. Because every time, you know, maybe things weren't looking that great, either I was in the final of a Slam or I was able to win a tournament, like in Estoril or in Halle. So I always bounced back right away when things were not looking that good, and same thing after Wimbledon. You know, maybe I was a little bit disappointed but it's still -- the buzz was bigger about the great match we just played, so I couldn't really look at this match and be completely disappointed. And then went through maybe the summer didn't win a whole lot of matches, but I won the Olympic gold in doubles. So I guess I always had sort of a good spirit. I was working out hard. I was in practice and never really down, because this is, I think, when you feel it most, when you go out on the practice court and you wonder what you want to do or change, and I never really felt I had that. That's a good thing, and I think that's why I'm always very, very positive, still, right now.
Commenting on the importance of confidence and if he ever lost confidence in himself…
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I mean, I don't know if I ever stop believing in myself. It's a matter of going out there having the repetitions to go out there and do it. I can't pass the ball off. I kind of have to face it and deal with it. There's no such way as kind of working your way back in. You're working your way back in. The guy's trying to beat you from the word go. You're in the breakers, you're in the 5-all points, and you have to play them tough and I felt like I did that over the last -- the other night and today, so that's good.
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