Commenting on whether it was surprise to struggle in the Final after playing well earlier in the tournament…
DINARA SAFINA: Yeah, because, I mean, I started really strong the tournament, and then in the quarters against Azarenka I started to slow down a little bit. I was not playing as much as aggressive like I started.  Slowly I became a little bit passive. Of course, against Sveta you have to be very aggressive. But it's not easy to -- from becoming passive to turning and being suddenly huge aggressive.  So this thing, I think I stepped back a little bit in the quarters already.

Commenting after his semifinal win over Gonzalez how he’s managed to maintain his focus since beating Rafael Nadal…
ROBIN SODERLING: Yeah, it's been hard, but not as hard as I thought it would be. You know, I felt I won a great match against Nadal. I told you guys before, this is ‑‑ I had maybe the biggest challenge in tennis right now to beat Nadal here on clay in Paris.  I felt like I wasn't finished with the tournament. I was still in the tournament, so even though I played a great match, I wanted more. I still feel that way.

Explaining why he’s been playing so well at the French Open this year…
ROBIN SODERLING: My consistency, I think. I always knew before that when I play well, when I play my best tennis, I can beat anybody.  Now I feel like I've played very, very good tennis for many, many matches in a row, which is great.  He meant a lot to me, you know. It's great to have a coach that used to play. He's been in the position I'm in right now. It's always good for me to ask when I feel something, when I feel nervous. When I feel in one way, it's always good for me to ask him, Did you feel the same when you played? He can think what he felt and give me some advice.

Commenting after his five set semifinal win over Juan Martin del Potro…
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, it was a tough match, no doubt. I thought he came out of the blocks really strong with his serve and the way he was setting up his shots, especially with his forehand, which can, you know, miss sometimes.  It wasn't the case today, so it was quite a bit of pressure. I also thought he had the upper hand from the baseline. He was serving better, so he obviously deserved the lead.  It was important for me to stay with him through the second set and save myself into the breaker, because I wasn't getting many break opportunities. Thank god my serve started to get better as the match went on.  I think once I got that second set, you know, I knew I was always going to be in a shot. The longer the match went, I was always confident with my, you know, with my physical abilities and my mental abilities that I was going to be able to turn it around in a tough situation.  So I'm very happy to have made it, once again.

Commenting on playing Robin Soderling in the Final…
ROGER FEDERER: Um, look, there's no easy Grand Slam finals. It's very simple, because the one who is on the other side of the net has also won six matches and is definitely in the shape of his life.  I cannot obviously underestimate Robin, even though I've beaten him I think in the five matches we've played against each other. But obviously it's nice to see someone else for a change in the French Open finals. I've been there before. I don't know if it's an advantage or not, because I've never been able to win.  I'm sure, you know, pressure is big for both players, you know. Not only for me, but also for him. It's his first big step in a Grand Slam. I'm sure we're going to play some good tennis, because I thought he played we will really well today against González.

Explaining how he spent the extra time he took off after the Australian Open preparing for the clay court season…
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean I've always been working hard. It's not like it's the first time in my life I've started to work hard. People sometimes overreact. But at the same time, it's also I think important to let the people know what you are actually doing, you know, when you're not at a tournament, you know.  I work extremely hard when I'm away from the tournaments. When I'm at the tournament I pace myself, because most importantly is that I'm rested in those events. That's you when you see me warm up. I'm more laid back because I've already put in the hard work once I get there.  It was a lot of getting used to the sliding, the longer rallies, the four-hours-in-a-row practice sessions. Those kind of things. Just getting -- serving for a long time, running around for a long time and just making it really a match situation in a five setter of a French Open.  That's what I'm trying to do, and it's nice obviously that's been able to pay off. It's been a good clay court preparation I've had, and I thought I should play well in Rome already. Unfortunately I didn't beat Djokovic in the semis, which I think I should have. But ever since, I haven't been looking back at the defeats. Also I'm very confident right now.

Commenting on her new coach, former WTA player, Larisa Savchenko…
SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: Yeah, I thank my coach, Larisa, so much, because she stays all match positive. Doesn't matter what happens, she just stays calm. It's okay. Play, play.  To me it's important. I can't stand when people make me nervous, say, How you do this? How you do that? I say, Guys, just go and play yourself if you want to do better (laughter.)  It's very important for me. She supports me all the way, and it's really great.

Describing what it’s like playing the long matches she had against Serena Williams and Samantha Stosur…
SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: The most difficult is after having chances, not winning them in the second set, putting everything in the third set. This is the most difficult, because I think I had chance and I didn't finish it.  The opponent is getting tougher and tougher, because you let them come back in the match and they start to believe in it and they start to play better. This is the hardest thing emotionally. But.  But then, I really enjoy playing this match. Even the crowd was not from my side. They were supporting I think Sam more. I don't know why. It was tough. I enjoy it. I enjoy having long rallies, putting lots of spin, playing different ball.  I really love doing this, and this is a pleasure which is my job and also it's my passion.

Explaining her history with Dinara Safina as juniors in Russia…
SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: Oh, yeah. This story goes way back. I was like 12 or 13, and Dinara was unbelievable girl. She's one year younger than me. I had no chance playing against her. I remember I lose to her 6-1,6-Love or something, but it was no chance.  I used to be girl from St. Petersburg, she was Moscow and her mom is huge coach who been coaching her. I mean, she was No. 1, No.2, always great. I don't even know what number I had.  But then I talk to her. I said, Dinara, do you remember something? She goes -- or whatever. We talk about it. She says, Yeah, I remember you coming with rock shirt, because I was big fan of the rock band and with big bottle of Coke to the match.  It's fun, you know. She tells me back then this is what she remembers. She was very good then, and then her brother was huge. I was coming to Marat, Hey, I know your sister Dinara. Can you give me autograph? You know, it was funny.  Then when we wanted to move to Spain. My parents decided that they want to move somewhere, so we called mom of Dinara and asked her to help us to go maybe to Valencia, because it was the only people we knew.  She goes, Yeah, well, this is the number. But we call and it was closed, so we went to another academy. But it's always been rivalry even she was good, but then I started to play better. So it was always ups and downs. Yeah, it's huge. It's in the back, back, back.

Describing how she deals with losses such as losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova…
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, um, I mean, I just deal with losses a little bit better nowadays. Honestly I think I lost because of me and not because of anything she did.  You know, I don't think that makes it easier, but it makes me realize that, you know, had I done different things I would have been able to win.

Responding to Serena’s comments about her loss…
SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: It's always good when somebody gives you credit. I always try to give credit for somebody, whoever I play. Doesn't matter if I play good or bad.  But, you know, she's great champion. I respect her. I think we both fighted [sic] a lot today. Maybe we didn't play either of us played great. I didn't close when I was 4 1 - up either.  So I could have done much better, also. But I believe we both fight hard, and it was very interesting match to watch. I give my best. I was lucky and I won this match. I push myself to the limit. This is what I can say.

Explaining why she thought she became tight in the third set in her loss to Kuznetsova…
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I haven't gotten tight since 2007 in Australia. I think that was the last time I got tight.  I don't know, I maybe I put some expectations on myself that I didn't put on myself initially. You know, I started hitting a lot of short balls and my arm locked up a little bit. It was what it was.

Describing how she managed to come through and beat Serena Williams…
SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: Yes, a little bit. In the third set it was tough, but still I convinced I can make it. In the bottom of my heart I still believe that I with play. I was doing great. You know, I wasn't playing bad.  Yes, I missed my moments, but she also was playing good. She served good in important moments, and I still believe I was fighting. So that was the key.

Commenting, after beating Gael Monfils, about being nervous and the pressure Monfils feels from the French fans…
ROGER FEDERER: We're all nervous at this stage of the competition. I felt it. Yesterday I felt it, and I felt it again today in the warm-up, when I warmed up before the match. I was tired, I was nervous, and I didn't feel really good.   Then once out on court, you know, I get my act together with the experience. You know, I think things will be all right. Sure, maybe he's put too much pressure on him. I doubt it, you know, because it's part of our job and we're used to it.  He definitely didn't play the best of matches in the second, but I think the first set was very high quality, and so was the third. So I still think he played a pretty good match.

Explaining why he feels his experience in Grand Slams helps him deal with feeling nervous at times…
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, I don't like it, but I know that once on center court for the match I'll be okay. That's where I think experience helps me in a big way. If I would have never been in a quarterfinals before, I think I would have maybe crumbled under the pressure or played a wrong game plan or mentally been fragile.  But knowing I've been in this position so many times, and it doesn't matter if I'm zero nervous or 100% nervous, I know I'll always play a decent match in the quarterfinals stage of a Grand Slam.

Commenting on whether he feels nervous because he wants to win the French Open so much…
ROGER FEDERER: That's what you guys say. No, I mean, I get nervous from time to time, you know, on some matches. There's no reason behind it, you know. But when you maybe sometimes want to do maybe too well, that happens. Or just because you know it could be a tough crowd or maybe you're not 100%, you know, sure about your game yet.  That's how I felt before this match, for instance, you know. But I could go into the semifinal match feeling zero nerves, you know. That's not always a good sign, either. For me, it's good to be able to go through those moments where I still do feel nervous. That means I care for the game and I want to stay around for a long time.

Commenting on the reaction of French fans and the people in Paris to him these days…
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I mean, I feel it since a few years now, to be honest with you. But this year even more extreme. When I walk on the streets or drive in the transportation or I go for dinner, everybody is like, This is your year. You've got to do it.  They're screaming from their scooters and out of the car. They even get out at the red lights and want me to sign an autograph or take a picture. It's quite incredible this last couple of weeks.  It just shows me that everybody is watching the French Open here, and it's great to get the support. You know, once out in the stadium it's amazing. I mean, we don't have a Grand Slam in Switzerland, but I definitely feel at home in the Grand Slams, and especially here.

Commenting after her loss to Dominika Cibulkova…
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Um, it took me a while, obviously, to start going for my shots and create, you know, good opportunities to come to the net and finish the point off, you know, closer to the court.  Yeah, it just -- you know, I guess you could only ask your body to do so much. You know, everything fell a little short today. The pace wasn't there on my strokes, and, you know, I was five steps slower today.  I think everything kind of combines. The fact that, you know, she just played really solid and made me hit a lot of balls, and I came up short today.

Describing what she was thinking when she was down 6-0 5-0 to Cibulkova…
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I mean, the only real difference is numbers. Like I said, I don't really care about numbers. It's either a W or an L, and I prefer W.  You know, if it's 7-6 in the third and you come out with a loss, I mean, what's the difference, you know? You lose.  I mean, obviously you try to give 100% and you try to fight for everything. And I've always been a fighter and I will be. You know, you can only ask yourself to do so much. When you run short, you've gotta keep your head up and look forward to the next opportunity you get.

Commenting on the transition from the clay courts at Roland Garros to the grass at Wimbledon…
ANDY MURRAY: Normally I have a lot longer to prepare on that than I had this year, so I might find that a little bit tougher, you know, at Queen's or whatnot.  But, no, the thing that's different is just the height that the ball bounces at is the main thing,  obviously, here. You know, some of the kick serves and stuff are getting up like way, way, way, way above your head.  On grass, it's always coming through nice and low. It's kinda sore on the hamstrings, you know, the first few days. I don't know, it's just something you -- you have to hit it -- well, you don't have to, but I try and hit a flatter ball, obviously, on grass.  That's the one big change. You don't hit a whole lot of flat shots on the clay.

Commenting on being one of the “older” guys on the Tour at the age of 28…
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Well, it's interesting, because I talk a lot about that with my friends. They thought that maybe I'm a little bit insane that I'm old guy, 28, 29 years old. But for tennis I'm giving like five or six years advantage to the other guys.  I mean, I'm trying but I feel -- I feel better now than I was 20 years old, you know, physically, mentally. Of course, my tennis, I been learning every time, and I'm fighting for that.  The day that I don't want to learn any more and I don't want to give my 100%, I'm going to quit.

After he beat Tommy Haas in five sets, responding to whether he felt relieved when he heard that Rafael Nadal had been upset…
ROGER FEDERER: Um, he didn't retire, right? (Laughter) No, he'll bounce back strong. I'm convinced about that. Sure, it was a big upset, but I mean, the focus wasn't really there, to be quite honest.  Of course, my dream scenario is to beat Rafa here in the finals, but I gotta concentrate on my part of the draw and make sure I come through like today.  Tommy Haas was very good today, so this is where my focus was, and will be also in my next round.

More thoughts regarding Nadal’s loss…
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, I watched -- I only saw the last bit because I was practicing and in transportation. Soderling certainly played great when he had to towards the end. He didn't get nervous. Didn't look like it, anyway. He came up with the right plays every single time, especially in the breaker when it really mattered.  I mean, it just shows that it's hard, you know, to win day in, day out at a particular tournament. His incredible run stretches back to a few years ago. He won over 30matches in a row here.  It's a phenomenal achievement, but it just shows that we're all human. We all lose at some stage, and people always make it sound so simple since like five years, that it's normal that he wins on clay, I win on grass, and then we share the hard courts. It's not just the way it is.  I speak firsthand, you know, knowing what it takes to dominate. You know, I think he knows that, too, already since quite a while. But it's I think the press that blow it up or hype it up a bit too much that you are invincible, unbeatable.  Tennis is not like this. You come out and you always have guys going after you, like Tommy Haas today, like Soderling yesterday. I think it only gives them extra motivation knowing that you're the guy to beat or -- they have nothing to lose, because if they lose, it's a normal result. If they win, it's an incredible achievement.  That's what Soderling was able to do, and it definitely creates some mind plays, I think, in some of the players' minds. You know, knowing that now their section is open. Mine hasn't been affected in a big way because I'm on the other side of the draw.  But I think for a lot of players over there, I think it must be quite a big opportunity, and their heads must be spinning right now.

Describing how important Mirka has been to him and to his career…
ROGER FEDERER: Well, Mirka, you know, the first two years we were together she didn't really travel that much with me because she had her own career. We met in Miami and the Grand Slam tournaments or matches, and then unfortunately she was seriously injured. She had to wait.  You know, there was a period of rehabilitation. Then when she had to go through the surgery or operation, it was not easy for her. But frankly, she decided very quickly to dedicate or to give up her career to focus on mine, even though today she still hurts.  I mean, her foot operation didn't go on really nicely, so it was easy for her to give up and say, Okay, I'll stop my career and I'll have my husband.  Now I think she is supporting me at the right moment, because, you know, I won Wimbledon in 2003, and that's when she didn't really know what to do with her  career. She didn't know if she would try it or not.  That's when she started helping me with the hotels, the plane tickets. I had no managers at the time. That's when she started dealing with the press, as well. It was a lot for her, I know, but she would protect me from many things.  And now, afterwards, it was better. It was easier and she was with me day in and day out, throughout the world, and she helped me considerably, as a person, you know. I developed faster, grew faster with her. Thanks to her I was very calm in the important moments in my career. She was always here, always supportive. I owe her a lot. It's normal.

Commenting after her upset loss to Sorana Cirstea…
JELENA JANKOVIC: I didn't know how well she could play, but I know how well I can play. I'm not producing that game, so it's obvious, you know. The way you play, this is the result you're going to have at the end of the day. That's all I can say.  I cannot control how she's playing or what kind of game she has. All can I do is control my thing and what I can do best. But obviously I'm not playing the same game and not same style as I used to play last year, end of the year when I was winning a lot of matches and was the No. 1 player in the world.  So unfortunately, some things have to -- I have to learn and I have to change.

Commenting on why he lost to Gael Monfils…
ANDY RODDICK: Execution was what I had problems with. You know, I knew that it was going to be a high risk, high reward type match for me. I was going to have to pick my spots, I was going to get passed sometimes.  Basically, you know, I want to shorten the court, and he's trying to lengthen the court. So that's the battle that took place. When it's lengthened, it becomes about movement and height on the ball. That's the balance I'm going to lose. I was trying to shorten the court.  Obviously, you know, without the ball being able to shoot through the court you lose a little bit of your advantage. So tactically, it was tough. I felt like I made the right decisions and just messed up the execution.

Explaining whether he has a secret to explain why the French crowds support him so much…
GAËL MONFILS: No, to be myself. To stay who I am, to remain who I am, and to fight for my opportunities. I'm French. Be the best player.

Posted by TC at 08:21 PM |