Commenting on the possibility of meeting the Queen…
SERENA WILLIAMS: I was going to curtsy today on the court afterwards, but I think I flubbed it. So I'm definitely going to work on it a little more. I'm trying to tone down my wrist action (laughter).  But my curtsy is really fun. It's something that she'll definitely never forget, if I ever even get a chance to meet her… I'm almost speechless because, I mean, hopefully I'll even get to play in front of her. If not, I'll be fine because I don't want to get too nervous.   But I think it's cool. She hasn't been here in how long? I think they said 33 years, which she's missed some generations of incredible tennis players. You know, to be in a new generation where she is going to come out and see, and even to be on the grounds and playing on that day I think is a real honor.

Commenting on her strong serving in her first round match…
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I served so terrible my last match at the French. I went home and worked really hard on my serve. I was incredibly disappointed with it. Had a talk with my serve. I said, You know, we got to do a little bit better.  Hopefully I can continue to serve well throughout The Championships and just keep going.

Commenting on adjusting his game from clay to grass courts…
RAFAEL NADAL: Is not one part of the game. Is the game in general, you know. Is the time of the ball, the way that you have to win the points, the serve. So that's the most important things, no? The movements.   So is a lot of changes, no? Is not the forehand or the backhand, no? Is a little bit more general the way that you have to play, no?

Commenting on which of Federer’s records is most impressive to him…
RAFAEL NADAL: Every one. Every one is amazing. If I have to say something, 23 semifinals in a row of Grand Slam… Because is five years, almost six years, playing all four Grand Slams. You can have no one injury, no one bad day, so is amazing. That's my feeling, no? So 23 semifinals in a row, in my opinion, impossible to do it another time.

Commenting on how she feels about her serve this year compared to a year ago…
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, well a year ago, uhm, it's tough to compare because this was only my third or fourth tournament back. I was just trying to get my feet on the ground and see where I was with my game and with my shoulder, whether it could keep up with the amount of matches that I would be playing and the conditions and everything.  You know, a whole year does a tremendous amount of things. Obviously, you know, last year I had to start with a shorter motion just to help my arm because I really wanted to go out there and start playing. And my shoulder felt good, but I had to change things around to get comfortable, uhm, with getting my speed back and the consistency in my serve, yeah.

Commenting on being back on Centre Court and the reception he received from the fans…
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, it's real nice. I mean, it really is. You know, certainly I feel, you know, whether it's right or wrong, that they kind of maybe appreciate the body of work that I've put together at this tournament. It's always gratifying.  It's humbling, as well. I mean, you know, you never feel like you're entitled to anything. For people, you know, they can choose whether or not to support you or not. The fact that they kind of were vocal about it and have been since I've been back over here, it's a nice thing.

Commenting on the different experience of staying in a home at Wimbledon…
JUSTINE HENIN: Yeah. Yeah, I love. But I see this differently than in the past. I don't know. It's like I really open my eyes now. In the past, after the French, usually I've played well at the French, and emotionally I was coming here with a lot of pressure. I was No. 1 also at that time.   Now I see really things differently. I mean, I've played on Court No. 2. I thought it's beautiful court and a lot of things have changed. But the atmosphere is just fantastic. You really feel the passion of the game.   It's true, being at home, that gives something different. At the middle of the season, that's what you need because it's already a few tournaments behind you. It's good that you feel, yeah, with my family also. My sister arrived today, so it's a nice feeling.

Commenting on adjusting her game to play on grass…
KIM CLIJSTERS: …I feel that I'm definitely playing probably my best tennis that I've played on grass, you know, compared to even a few years ago. I think, uhm, that's a good feeling to have that. I'm moving well.   You know, my serve and my returns are going well. I think that's the key I think on grass, is those first few shots have to be, you know, on target.  You know, it's a different attitude than when you're playing on a hard court or in Australia or whenever. I think there's a different, you know, attitude out there, as well. But I feel comfortable and I feel that I'm, you know, when I'm playing my best, I feel really comfortable in that position, and I think it's a comforting feeling to have.

Commenting on why she believes there haven’t been more younger players breaking through and it seems that the “veterans” are dominating more these days…
KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, I do actually. I think the biggest change I think to me is that, you know, I don't think we'll see a lot of youngers anymore coming up and doing well, I think it's because of the physical part. I think it's become so much more physical these days.   I remember obviously Venus and Serena were the ones who started that generation. Myself and Justine, we all had to go back to the gym and become faster, stronger, mentally change a little bit as well. I think that's probably the biggest difference, unless you're a 14  or 15 year old and you know you're strong and you have that power. And the fitness to compete, you know, not just for a few games, but to compete a whole match and a whole tournament is tough I think these days for that age.   I think we'll see definitely a switch and a change I think in age of youngsters breaking through. We'll have an age of 19 , 20 , 21 year olds who start doing better and be more consistent in their results.

Commenting on the lengthy match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut…
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I'd be checking myself into the local hospital at that point (smiling). It's pretty incredible what they've done. I think at this point maybe the rules will be changed at a certain point you're going to have to play a tiebreaker. It's an amazing effort at that point in the match to come out and to be able to hit such powerful strokes and serves and just keep doing it over and over. But over a certain period of time, I think it takes a toll on your body mentally and physically.   I mean, probably the rule will change, but you never know.

Commenting about whether since her shoulder injury she’s thought about a future without tennis and what she would do…
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Uhm, I mean, I've set up myself pretty well for things that I can do after my tennis career. But that never really crossed my mind 'cause I was always gearing up to get back. You know, I've been fortunate to do, uhm, and to work with different people in different industries that have really made my life interesting and fun and creative. Fashion and things like that.   Uhm, I would certainly explore that after my career.

Commenting on missing the chance to meet the Queen because he was preparing for his match…
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, was disappointing for me. But, you know, the Club knows, Wimbledon Club knows that before, because I have my routines before the match. I had a very difficult match, before the match, I know going to be a very difficult match. I had to practice around 12, so was impossible for me.   Seriously I thought the Queen was going to be in my match, and I would love to have the chance to meet her after the match. But wasn't possible because I think the Queen left before. For me was disappointing. I was excited to meet her. But was very important match for me, too.

Commenting on playing in front of Queen Elizabeth…
ANDY MURRAY: …that's one of our jobs. You know, as a professional sports person, you've got to learn to sort of block out distractions. Obviously, playing at Wimbledon, there's pressure, you know, various things going on every time you go out on the court.  So, you know, it's something that you have to learn to deal with. Obviously playing here the last four or five years has definitely helped with that. it's our job to be able to put those sort of things to the back of your mind when you're playing. Obviously, you know, you realize after you're finished, you know, the occasion that it was, you know, who was actually watching you. You know, it's obviously an honor and a privilege to play in front of the Queen.   But when you're playing, that's our job to be able to put that to the back of your mind…. It's great. I think for all the players, it's probably a once in a lifetime opportunity for all of us. You know, you saw by the players that were there to obviously meet her this morning that, you know, it was a big deal for everybody.   You know, I'm sure everyone thought it was a great occasion. You know, don't know whether she'll be coming in the next few years, but I definitely enjoyed it.

Commenting on her bow to the Queen in the receiving line and their brief chat…
SERENA WILLIAMS: My bow didn't go the way I wanted. I didn't get my wrist action that I thought I would have, and then I got nervous. So my knee kind of got tight, and I felt a lot of pain in my left knee, so I couldn't get as low as I wanted to… I don't remember. Honestly, I was supposed to say, Your Majesty. I totally choked. I was like, Hey, nice to meet you, total American style. And then, you know, she started talking. Then I was like, Your Majesty, while she was talking. I don't know, so... She shakes your hand. Lovely to meet you. Next thing I know, you're supposed to say, Your Majesty. She's talking. I'm like, Oh, Your Majesty.

Commenting on playing on Court Number Two…
SERENA WILLIAMS: I have mixed feelings about that. You know, I don't think I should be out there. But in a way, I feel like, you know, with my popularity, it's cool to see    when I was leaving, I stayed for a while, and I signed tons of autographs. A lot of these people can't get into the Centre Court and stuff.   Other than that, that definitely made up for it, to see fans I wouldn't normally see.

Comparing her game to Justine Henin’s game…
KIM CLIJSTERS: It's like school exams here (smiling).   No, obviously I think, you know, she has always been, growing up together, she's always been the more touchy player. She has good hands. Obviously, the slice is something she was naturally born with. You know, that's something that for me takes a lot -- took a lot of hard more work.   You know, I think I'm naturally -- obviously, I'm bigger, stronger in a sense, but I think she's improved a lot in that aspect as well. I think she's definitely improved a lot on her serve.   You know, there's not that many differences, but there's a lot of differences, I guess. You know, she moves well. Without sounding too cocky or confident, I think also I'm not a bad mover out on court. Like I said, she has those quick hands that can make it    you know, she brings back a lot of balls and a lot of tough balls even when you feel like you're dominating. I think that's one of her strengths.

Commenting on the evolution of her interactions with Justine Henin…
KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, I think so. I think it is. It's not that in a way that it's completely black and white difference. But I think we've definitely grown up. I think we've, you know, had great times together playing Fed Cup and just, you know, messaging each other on phones, teasing each other, fun, you know, relax. I think that's how I would have liked it to have always been.

Commenting on her style of play and Kim Clijsters’s style…
JUSTINE HENIN: Well, I mean, our careers, we grew up at the same time. We arrived at the top at the same time. We almost retired at the same time. We almost came back at the same time. So we very close.   But in terms of game, of course, we play different kind of tennis. Kim is very powerful, but she's moving very well, and she has big weapons in his game. A real fighter also. The attitude is unbelievable.   And I just try to use these different kind of things. I have to move forward. I have to be very aggressive if I want to have a chance. I know what I'll have to do. But it's going to be a question of    it's not that easy to do it on the court. So to do it on the court...  I would say in our first career, we never played our best tennis against each other. This year it's been two times 7 6 in the third, so very close and I hope it's going to be another good one.

Commenting on how her interactions with Kim Clijsters have changed…
JUSTINE HENIN: Our relationship is very good. We can feel we grew up a lot, both of us. I mean, Kim, of course, having a baby, and the distance I took also for two years. We had a fantastic time in the Fed Cup tie together. Probably discover each other not differently than in the past, but we more adults now, and we have a lot of respect. So, of course on the court, I mean, we both want to win, but the relationship is very good.

Commenting on his relationships with his coach, Marian Vadja…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I think every player has a different personality, character. And, of course, with it he has a different way of approach to the tennis and a person who wants to be next to him. From my side, it's very important for me to have, of course, somebody who has a lot of experience in tennis, but in the other hand, somebody that I can talk to on and off the court that I can share my emotions and thoughts and everything. He's been like my second father. So we kind of built up that relationship from the start. It's been great. You know, he's always going to be the part of my team hopefully as a coach always. You know, I'm just happy with the way things stand.

Commenting on his fist-pumps after winning key points/games in a match…
LLEYTON HEWITT: That's who I am. You can't buy that. You know, that's my personality coming out on the court. Yeah, I've always played with my heart on my sleeve.  Doesn't matter what the situation. If I'm up for the fight, then, you know, it's going to show at the right times, I think. It's not something you premeditate before you go out there to play.

Commenting on meeting the Queen…
ROGER FEDERER: Just enjoyed sitting right next to her at lunch really and getting a chance to know what kind of a person she is, because you hear a lot obviously about people of her status. It was nice. She was very friendly, very relaxed. You could tell she's done this a million times, you know. She made everybody feel very special at the table, one of those things you'll never forget, and be able to tell to your kids or someone down the line…  she knew about my tough first round. She knew she was going to watch Andy obviously at 1 p.m. She knew about the Isner Mahut match. She also was very excited to be back at Wimbledon finally, that her schedule allowed it, because usually she said she was in Scotland during this time. We were all very thrilled she finally made it.

Commenting on the fact that the English soccer team didn’t allow wives/girlfriends to stay at the team hotel…
ANDY RODDICK: I mean, it's different. It's a team event versus an individual event. Having a person there is great. Having 25 wives, you know, having to account, that's 25 more meals, that's 25 more things that the team has to kind of worry about. I don't know if this is a wives/girlfriend issue or a numbers issue that we're dealing with. Personally, I obviously love having Brooke here.

Commenting on changing to a tie-breaker in the final set…
ANDY RODDICK: I'm torn. I can definitely understand both ways. The only reason why I would say, you know, Put a cap at 10 all or 12 all, put a breaker there, is maybe just because of what you saw today from John. I mean, you can't go any longer. It's not a conditioning issue. No one can play 11 hours and then come back and go straight into an event again where you're playing three out of five sets.   So from that angle, you know, it would make sense. But then, you know, all the matches you're talking about    in fairness to players, they should probably put a cap, but as far as general interest and drama and everything, they probably shouldn't.   I'm torn like probably everyone else is.

Commenting on coming to the net more…
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think it helps my groundies. You know, when I'm looking to be aggressive and looking to come in, I mean, it's just common sense there's going to be something more on the ball than if you hit it and just stay back and wait for your opponent to miss.   So when I'm aggressive and I'm moving in and I'm taking, you know, balls out of the area, you know, I'm not a player that's going to come to the net and start hitting three, four, five volleys in a row. I'm looking to come in and finish the point off there.

Commenting on whether he thought it was fair for his Uncle Toni to be called for coaching during his third round match…
RAFAEL NADAL: Sometimes, yes. Not today, in my opinion. But, yes, sometimes in the past Toni talk maybe too much. And when it happened, and the referee or the umpire give me an advice, and if it is continuing, later a warning.   But not today, in my opinion. Yeah, no.

Posted by TC at 04:47 PM |