2011 Australian Open Tennis Interview Room Quotes - Week One
Selected quotes from the players’ post-match press conferences at the 2011 Australian Open tennis tournament...
Commenting on his strong form in his first round win…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC : I was building up on the confidence that I had in last couple weeks, 2010, played really well, even in London, then Davis Cup finals was just remarkable. Very short off season. But I kind of didn't lose because it was such a short resting period, I didn't lose the feeling of hitting the ball well. As soon as I started playing again tennis, I just feel comfortable on the court. I continued on. I was surprised with my performances in Hopman Cup, the way I played there. Right here, you know, I took the ball early from the start, wanted to be aggressive, give him no choice to come back to the match
After winning a tough first round match against Sania Mirza in three sets…
JUSTINE HENIN: I think I need this kind of match exactly to, yeah, really be into the tournament like I want to be and be at my best level. I know it can go very quickly at this level. Of course, I have the experience, but I need matches, I need rhythm, and I need fight, like tonight. And I remain confident, not only about the tournament but for the future. I was feeling a bit nervous, actually very nervous, before walking on the court. Even if you have the experience, a first round of a Grand Slam, especially after a long injury, you never know really what to expect. So I can be happy with that. Now I want to keep going. Even if I know I've been in a lot of trouble the last few months, I still have a lot of ambition, and this kind of match I think is going to help.
Commenting on the changes to her serve in her comebackJUSTINE HENIN: It was important more speed but try to be a little bit more consistent in terms of percentage. And I think during last year, I mean, I have never served as good as I was serving last year in Miami. Even in Wimbledon I was serving very good. So it was important changes. We know I'm not that tall, that strong as the other players. We know it's not my biggest weapon. But I remain, yeah, confident that we can go to the next step on my serve. Now it's still a bit hard after the injury on the elbow. But I'm glad about what we did technically. I've been laughing so much about my serve, because I think we tried 20 different ways to serve. You know, I'm just 1 meter 66, so it's not that big. Technically it has to be perfect on every serve. I cannot compensate with a strong shoulder and being tall. It has to be perfect. Sometimes it's getting down, but I still think that it was the right choice.Commenting on Caroline Wozniacki and others becoming Number One without having won a Grand Slam…JUSTINE HENIN: It's not that easy. Of course we wish that to be No. 1 you have to win Grand Slams. I think - as I was thinking about that in the last few days - if I have to remember something, it wasn't really that I was the best player in the world, but it's all the Grand Slams I won. That's what gives really the emotions. So of course they have been very consistent, not injured, so they could play. Wozniacki is still very young. Safina has been in trouble. Jankovic I think played a lot and also has been tired from that at a certain time of her career. But I wish them to win Grand Slams because they will feel the difference. When I became No. 1, I was so happy because it was in 2003. I did win the French, US Open that year, and I think it was big accomplishment, the dream of a little girl to be the best in the world. But the feelings you get at the second you win a Grand Slam, yeah, winning a Grand Slam, it's seven matches, two weeks, it's the hardest, I think. Serena proved that many times as she, you know, didn't play a lot, but in the big moments she was there. And I think it's the most important.
Commenting on Caroline Wozniacki and others becoming Number One without having won a Grand Slam…
JUSTINE HENIN: It's not that easy. Of course we wish that to be No. 1 you have to win Grand Slams. I think - as I was thinking about that in the last few days - if I have to remember something, it wasn't really that I was the best player in the world, but it's all the Grand Slams I won. That's what gives really the emotions. So of course they have been very consistent, not injured, so they could play. Wozniacki is still very young. Safina has been in trouble. Jankovic I think played a lot and also has been tired from that at a certain time of her career. But I wish them to win Grand Slams because they will feel the difference. When I became No. 1, I was so happy because it was in 2003. I did win the French, US Open that year, and I think it was big accomplishment, the dream of a little girl to be the best in the world. But the feelings you get at the second you win a Grand Slam, yeah, winning a Grand Slam, it's seven matches, two weeks, it's the hardest, I think. Serena proved that many times as she, you know, didn't play a lot, but in the big moments she was there. And I think it's the most important.
Commenting after her first round win what it’s like to be here without Serena and if that opens up the draw more for her to possibly win the title…
VENUS WILLIAMS: It's definitely a lot quieter. You know, now that she's not here I know she played a couple years with me not here I definitely realize and appreciate how great it is to have someone on the tour that happens to be your sister, at the tournaments with them every week, what a great support that is. So I'm counting my blessings now.… To be honest, I'm just really focused on getting to the next round, regardless of who's there. Obviously, you know, Serena is such a great player that of course any tournament misses her. But in terms of me actually being here and trying to win, I just have to focus on getting to the next round till it's all over.
Commenting on his focus on getting physically fit and healthy in the off-season…
ANDY RODDICK: That was the biggest thing for me. I mean, honestly, last time I was healthy I feel like was May last year. Up to that point I had great results. Same with '09 through when I got hurt, I had really good results. So, uhm, the biggest thing for me was getting right, getting healthy, feeling strong. That was the focus. You know, Larry said, Listen, I don't care if you hit up until a certain point; I want you working; I want you strong. I don't want us having to adjust our game plans around what you may or may not be able to do physically. That was probably the priority this off season. You know, you come back, and sure enough, playing better matches early on this year.
Explaining whether he remembers wins or losses more…
ROGER FEDERER: Well, usually I remember the losses maybe just a bit more because I don't have as many as I have wins (smiling). It's a good/bad problem. Because I have started to forget wins, which is not a good sign, you know, or a good sign. Depends on how you look at it (laughter). But losses come to me faster just 'cause I don't have as many as the wins, like I said before. So I quickly can tell you probably what happened in those matches and so forth, you know. Because usually when you lose, you leave and you analyze the match and you try to think back on what could I have done better and it kind of sticks with you for a little bit. Whereas normally with a match in a normal tournament, you win, you move onto the next round. You win, you move onto the next round. It doesn't last with you so long. But when you lose, you have a few days to think about it, or a couple times even a few weeks. Not that you're going to think about it all day long and in your dreams, but it for sure sticks with you longer. That's why I do remember the matches with Simon vividly, to be quite honest.
Commenting after her first round win in which she played the first match of the tournament on Rod Laver Arena (and started with two straight double faults)…
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I was definitely a little bit nervous in the beginning. You know, last year I played first match on center and, you know, I lost. So kind of was like, I don't want this to happen again this year. So, you know, the first game definitely wasn't great, and, uhm, didn't serve good at all during the match. But, you know, otherwise she was close to being 4 1 in the second set, and I was able to win 6 1, 6 3. So that's the positive within my game. I started playing better as the match went on. And, uhm, yeah, I can only improve in the second one.
Commenting on her progress coming back since her shoulder surgery…
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Listen, I wish I could be No. 1 in the world today, last year, right when I came back. But I think everything is a process, you know. It really is. I've had many challenges in my career, you know, before today. A lot of it was trying to win Grand Slams and trying to get to No. 1. A lot of it was trying to get back from my injury. Now it's a challenge of trying to get back to where I want to be. And, uhm, you know, everything in life I think is a process. You have to keep working at it. I think it depends if you really want it or not. I think I had a really long time to think about whether I wanted it or not, and I certainly did. So, uhm, yeah.
Asked whether she would feel sorry for her opponent, Dinara Safina, when she was beating her 6-0, 5-0 and give her a game…
KIM CLIJSTERS: Give her a game? No, I mean, I do feel bad. I even caught myself like at 5 Love, she hit those couple backhands down the line, Yeah, that's it. No, seriously (laughter). Okay, when she doesn't play against me, I'm rooting for her because I want her to get back into it and build confidence. You feel when your opponent, when we're in a rally and it's going well, it's like, Yeah, this is getting better. This is where she should be. Again, that backhand down the line was the shot I remember the most about her. She didn't use it until that last game. But I wouldn't give her a game (smiling).
Commenting on being back at a Grand Slam…
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO: Well, I feel good. Is nice for me be here with these players, this tournament, and of course playing a Grand Slam. Today I play good tennis again. But I'm really enjoying this week. I met with all the players, especially the top 10 players. They support me when I was very bad. So now I face to face with them and I say thank you.
Asked whether he reads press articles written about him…
RAFAEL NADAL: I never read a lot about me, so this is not an obsession. Seriously, the most positive thing that's talking about that is because I won the last three. The rest of the things doesn't matter, no, because I know how difficult is every tournament. I am not ready to think if I am ready to win this tournament or not right now, no? So you have your job; I have my job. You can write what you think, and I gonna try my best every day to play well and to be competitive when I am on court. But I never think about winning the four Grand Slams in a row because that's very far right now.
Commenting after finally beating Gilles Simon in five sets on his fourth match point and whether he thought about past matches last year when he had match points and eventually lost…
ROGER FEDERER: I was like, This can't be true, right? I've had some tough losses last year. Obviously they're in the past and I've had a wonderful last six months. But sometimes it just doesn't seem to go your way. As much as you believe and press and do the right things, sometimes you get unlucky and sometimes the other guy just reads your mind or it just all falls into place and it's not your day. I didn't feel that feeling out there, but I definitely felt something was not going my way. I really had to play an extremely good game to close it out. Obviously I was quite relieved.
Commenting on the current stage of her career…
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, well, I've been there and I've been No. 1; I've won Grand Slams; I've been in a position where, you know, in semifinals or finals in Grand Slams where I've faced tough opponents and had to beat them in order to be the champion. I've done that in my career. This is a different stage in my career. This is where I'm trying to find my groove after being gone for a while, and also finding it on the court and playing matches. I'm enjoy that. I mean, it's also tough to say that you're enjoying when you're struggling a little bit and maybe not winning the matches that you want to be winning. But when you're feeling like you're on the right path, it's gratifying that you're out there and just trying to improve, really
Responding about whether she is mentally tired from all her injuries…
VENUS WILLIAMS: Well, I think mental fatigue from dealing with injuries comes from when you just don't think you can make it back. I've always felt that I can make it back. When I'm off from injuries, I'm really productive with my time and try to develop myself as a person off the court. So I stay busy.
Describing what confidence means to him…
ANDY RODDICK: Well, for me it's not really about one shot, I don't think. I think when you're confident, the court just makes sense; decisions come easier to you. A lot of it comes naturally. There's not a whole lot of thought process. You're not forcing a lot. The ball kind of, I guess, reacts the way you want it to. You know, I think at least for me that just comes with playing matches. I've certainly been out on the court enough the early part of the season here with Brisbane and now here. So I feel comfortable out there right now.
Commenting on how he stays fresh and prepared at Grand Slams…
ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, I think you learn as you go. I think you learn what an important part nutrition plays, sleep plays, hydration plays. As much as hitting balls on off days, I think it's more about making sure your body's right. Not every match is going to go five hours. Every match has potential to go five hours. So I think you need to prepare accordingly. Then if you have energy left in the tank, that's a good thing. But, yeah, I mean, I definitely think, you know, I've learned it's as much about, uhm, you know, getting your body back to neutral not just in slams but in every tournament but probably more so in slams because kind of the extreme nature of how long you might be out there.
Commenting on whether it’s harder now for a guy to break into the top of men’s tennis…
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I think always happen that. When I arrived, since like is impossible to be in the top, because in that moment, all the players was very good and very young: Coria, Nalbandian, Roger, Lleyton, Roddick. A lot of ones in the top. And when I saw the rankings, I say, Well, I don't know how I can be there, no? But finally you improve every year, you improve every day, you're going to have your chance, no? And that's what I tried. Finally I did in 2005. So when I started to play well, I improved little bit my level, I think I was able to go there. And for sure this is difficult, but I think is the problem of the best today is I think we are still young. Del Potro is young. Murray, Djokovic, Soderling, Berdych, hopefully myself (smiling). We're still young. Hopefully we can be there for a long time. But the tennis is very hard sport and is really difficult have a very, very long career, no? So you always gonna have problems. One injury, three months out. Another one, one month out. Another one is tired mentally. So everybody has his chance.
Describing what it’s like to be a teenager coming onto the Tour…
RAFAEL NADAL: Is much easier when you are a teenager, I think. When you have 17 or 18, everything is easier. You play with no pressure. You can win, you can lose, everything is fine. That's a different mentality. You can play more aggressive. For everybody is the same history I think, no? When you arrive, you hit all the balls like crazy and without think, without pressure. When you are there (indicating at a high level) you start to think a little bit more about you have to play this shot, you have to play another shot, I can't lose this match, I have to win this match for sure. That's a little bit more problems. When you are coming up, you play quarterfinals perfect; you play semifinals fantastic; you play final very good; and if you win, is unbelievable. So when you are there, you play quarterfinals, say, Well, is good. Is not my tournament, but you are going back very happy at home. So that is different view and different perspective of the game. So the pressure is higher when you are in the top. Seems like can be a different thing, but believe me, that's what happen.
Commenting about whether he feels a lot of pressure now as the top player…
RAFAEL NADAL: I think I am in a different moment of my career. That's happened to me in 2006, 2007 perhaps, but not the day of today. The day of today, I am lucky. I have 24 and a half. I won what I win, what I won in the past, and that's more than what I ever dreamed. So my moment is different. I am very happy about what I did. That's give me a lot of calm. I have probably less pressure right now, last year's season, winning a lot. I have to work hard every day. That's what I do: keep practicing with humble, illusion, and motivation for sure, waiting my chances, trying to find my chances. But I have pressure, yes, but for sure less than when I was playing in 2006 and 2007.
Commenting on her first retirement in a Grand Slam match…
VENUS WILLIAMS: I mean it's super disappointing because this is just not how I envisioned my Australian Open being. I've never had to retire from a Grand Slam especially after working so hard to pull out the match the other day. Just hoping for some magic that I could recover. But I have peace of mind that I really gave more than my best to be out there
Explaining what still gets him excited about playing…
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, mixing it up. Playing exciting tennis like I was able to do today. Coming to the net, trying out a few different things, hitting dropshots, big forehands, you know, playing tactically the right way. So I enjoy that. And obviously playing on Rod laver Arena or any center court around the world where usually I am put on to play is obviously a lot fun. It takes a lot of hard work to get there. Because in the beginning you need some great results to get to the show courts. Maybe sometimes when you're there you want to stay there. You can really cement your place on the big show courts, which I've been able to do. That's obviously now a dream come true playing all around the world on all the great courts we have
Commenting on all the money he has earned on and off the court during his career so far…
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, sure. I never expected myself to earn so much money. This is where I always thank the older generation for all their hard work where prize money wasn't so high yet. But they were doing it basically for the love of the game because that's what it was. Okay, there was no maybe media and no, you know, professional tour at the beginning. But they were doing some incredible things for the game to promote it all around the world. This is what I'll never forget. I like the history of the game, and this is why also I respect all the legends so much. The platform we have today is incredible. I didn't start playing tennis to make a living out of it. It was just more living a dream, trying, because you knew, okay, you could make a bit of money. Maybe that could help you travel, and then you go from there. I hope that in 20 years, 50 years it's going to be even more incredible, the game of tennis, which it already is. Yeah, I know how lucky I have become. That's why for me it's absolutely normal to give back with my foundation, and wherever I can help. I try to do my best. It's not for image sake or because I have a bad conscious or anything. It's got to come from your heart, and that's what it is with me anyway.
Responding about all the money she has earned…
SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA: What's happened with you guys? I see Roger's interview. You guys ask him what he does with his money. We sleep, put under my couch and I sleep on it every day I think. I have 17 or I don't know how many, 15 million. You just have to realize when everybody comes to me and says, Oh, you have 17 million. I'm like, Where are they? I don't see any. I'm same human as you are and we're all humans. I honestly don't know. It's exactly what people think. We're super rich and something like that. I'm talking now for myself. Looking at the total amount of money you earn in career, they think you have 15 million. You don't realize how much we spend for the team. You don't realize how much we pay for traveling, for hotels, for preparations. You don't realize with coaches, we pay them. It's pretty high charges. Higher you are, more you spend for your team. It's really a lot expenses. I'm not going to do a computer math here for you; I'm not good at it. But I like to count still. But there's lots of expenses and also we do taxes and few things that people don't realize. We're not like soccer players who just travel for travelling expenses. The team pays. We pay everything. I pay everything by myself. No federation, nobody helps me. Definitely to go up somebody puts money into you. My parents. Some people have been helped by sponsors. Definitely have to do a lot of expenses. It's not like I have under my couch 17 million. You can come and check though.
Commenting on bringing on her new coach…
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, you know, I had the same team and, you know, a similar voice for many years, over six years. I just felt like I needed a little bit of a fresher voice and a different perspective, not someone that's going to come in and change my game or do something drastic. But I brought in Thomas because one of the things is because I knew him over the last few years. I've gotten to know him working with him a little bit with Haase at the academy in Florida. He brings a really good work ethic to the table, which is important. Last year I felt like I was lacking a little bit of that because of the results that I just wasn't getting or wanted to do better and was getting a little bit down on myself. He's really a positive influence. You know, really believes in me. He's watched me play throughout the years. Yeah, he's really professional. He knows I'm a pretty private person, and he sticks to what he feels he needs to do on the court. We have our dinners and, yeah, it's good. I'm enjoying it. I think I can learn a lot of things from him.
Describing his natural style of play…
ROGER FEDERER: I prefer to come forward and force the issue. I've always played that way since I'm a kid. Try to run around my backhand. I used to have a horrible backhand before so I had to find ways to get around that and use my forehand so they couldn't find my backhand or the rally would end. That how I grew up playing. Then I grew stronger and my serve got better. My forehand had more topspin, and my backhand started to improve a bit. That's how I always enjoyed playing. But I really was able to improve sort of in 2001 and '02 my defensive game as well. My mental part of the game also started to kick in a bit. Obviously being able to play defense and then right way change to offense, that's something I was really able to become good at. Definitely learned that from some players. And footwork helped me in a big way as well. I can do it all today. But deep down I guess I'm an attacker more than a defender… don't care about unforced errors. The guys that love the statistics, they love those things. I don't care if I make 20 or 60 unforced errors, I don't care. As long as I'm doing the right things and staying true to my game plan and it makes sense. If I'm just making errors and I can't hit any winner any more, then I'm in trouble clearly. But it's about setting up the plays right. That's why for me those kind of statistics don't mean a whole lot to me. It's sort of more how many points do you win on second serves and returns and all those kind of things. So it's not just winners and error count that matters to me.
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