2011 U.S. Open Tennis Interview Room Quotes - Week Two
Selected quotes from the players’ post-match press conferences at the 2011 U.S. Open...
Responding whether she thinks she is the best player in the world…
SERENA WILLIAMS: I don't know. I don't know. Like I don't know if I'm the best or not. I believe I am and I think a lot of other girls, women in the locker room, believe they are, too, as they should. I don't think anyone should go out and say that they're not. If you're talking about self belief, then yeah.
Commenting on whether winning titles or being Number One is her focus/goal…
SERENA WILLIAMS: My goal is always just to win the tournaments and the ranking will come, you know, 'cause for me it's about titles and stuff like that. You know, the ranking will be there. I'll get there. You can't take the ranking with you when you retire, but you can definitely take the titles and the trophies.
Describing her service motion…
SERENA WILLIAMS: I feel kind of like lazy. I feel like it's like, you know, I don't do much and I kind of go slow, and then all of a sudden I hit it. I look at Venus' serve, I think it's so drastically different. I just think about all the times we served together, when did we go separate ways. It's kind of weird.
Assessing his mental strength…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I think mental strength you get over the years playing on the tour, getting experience, and using that experience in a right way. Physically out there, there is so many fit players. I mean, the game has changed tremendously. You know, top hundred players, physically there is not much difference between No. 78 in the world and No. 2, 3, 1, 5. Everybody's working hours and hours on the court, off the court. It's much more dedication to the sport than it used to be, in my opinion. But as you said, it's a mental ability to handle the pressure, to play well at the right moments, and that's why I think there is a certain difference with top 10 players.
Commenting on his support from his parents and if he wished they’d done anything differently when he was younger…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: No, I am not one of the persons who likes to look back and regret on some things. Everything I have done or my parents or any members of my family have done for me, I'm very, very grateful for that. It's been tough times, you know, coming from a country that has had so much trouble. If I didn't have their support, I don't think I would manage to get here. But, you know, that's why they're my parents. That's why they're my family. They're there to support. Their support is always welcome, is always needed. Yeah, now I have two younger brothers that I hope that they will come one day to this seat.
Commenting about how long it took him to get over his loss earlier this summer to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at Wimbledon after losing a two sets to love lead for the first time in a Grand Slam…
ROGER FEDERER: Not much, actually. For some reason, because I felt I did everything I could, it was almost back to a true grass court match. A couple shots here and there made the difference, particularly back at the break I got in the third set. I should never have been broken. For some crazy reason he gets the break there and the rest, as we know, is history. Normally on grass, people used to serve and volley. This was first serve, first hit, the point was over so many times on both ends. At the end he got the better of me. I didn't walk away too down. I was more frustrated for a little bit because I knew I was playing good enough to win the tournament. And there you are sitting not having a chance to walk out in a couple days. That's what is tough about it, especially at Wimbledon, which means so much to me. But it's what happened. It's tough. It's never happened at a Grand Slam that I was up two sets to love and ended up losing. I did enjoy my vacation, so it's okay.
Commenting after rain forced the cancellation of two days of play and raised the possibility of certain players on one side of the men’s draw having to play matches four days in a row (didn’t happen because the final was switched to Monday)…
RAFAEL NADAL: That's not fair, but that's what it is. Here in the Grand Slams, if I am in the position of the US Open or Wimbledon or Australia, Roland Garros, I will do the same. Why not? I had a lot of interesting meeting with the TV, with everybody, that for sure is better to have the final on Sunday for them. But not for the players, because our part of the draw will be in a very difficult situation for the player who will be in the final. The semifinals maybe, too, because two days in a row playing tough matches is difficult. The matches, quarterfinals, semifinals, four rounds of Grand Slam normally are tough matches. If you don't have rest, you have a big chance not be enough fit to play well the next match. But the problem is we need to have the right representation in these tournaments. You know, I don't know how, but things like this cannot happen. Having the semifinals on Saturday, you know, is something crazy for the players. Last year it was the final on Monday. So is something that in my opinion cannot happen, and the players are important part of the show. My opinion. No, the tournament -- I said is not only the players, the tournament is not important without the players. Is a big tournament, and that's the true. The US Open is -- probably more important is the US Open than the players, but the players are a big part of this show. The fans are a big part of this show. Yesterday you cannot like fans going on court for five, ten minutes, because never stops the rain. So the problem, in my opinion, is not the organization of the US Open. The problem is we don't have enough power in these kind of tournaments. That's what have to change very soon.
Commenting on the need for the players to come together to deal with situations like the rain delays and scheduling choices at the 2011 U.S. Open…
ANDY RODDICK: ….until we unite it doesn't matter and people can call our bluff. If someone wants to get what they want -- you know, I have been trying to tell people that talent normally wins in negotiations. If Bono doesn't want to go on tour, then it all falls apart. But until we unite as one voice, then we're not gonna get what we want; therefore, we don't have the right to complain about it.
Commenting after upsetting David Ferrer…
ANDY RODDICK: Um, no. I didn't need this to define me. I didn't need a great result. I shouldn't have needed it to show you guys that I can play tennis. I haven't played well this year, but I have been playing pretty well for 10 years. You know, I'm happy. I feel proud that I was able to come back and play at a high level and beat a guy 5 in the world on a big stage. But I have done that before. You know, I always said, You're real close, but I had to get some matches in a row. I hadn't been able to do that.
Describing Caroline Wozniacki’s weapons…
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think her weapon is the fact that she never gives up. You saw she was playing Kuznetsova and she was down and she came back. That's probably the biggest weapon I think you can have in all of tennis. Also, she's moving really fast. She's running every ball down. That's a great weapon to have, as well.
Commenting on what she learned from the injury experience of glass cutting the tendon in her foot…
SERENA WILLIAMS: I always go out wearing either shoes that cover all my foot or most of it. I'm serious.
Commenting on the choices players make re playing matches when they don’t feel well or comfortable about the court conditions, etc. and the need for the players to have “a voice”…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I experienced many situations in my career where I would always prioritize my health regardless of the situation I'm in. Always. Because, I mean, we are all tennis professionals. We all want to win and we all want to be the best in what we do. That's a fact. But this is not something that we will do all our lives. After we are 30 or whatever, when we finish our careers, we want to still be healthy. We want to have normal families. We want to still play tennis, have the academies, be a coach, whatever, but be healthy, because this is something that matters most. So, yeah, there has been experiences where I felt that I'm hitting a wall where I think my voice wasn't heard enough. But, you know, I was very understandable. I tried to always understand the tournaments. I tried to understand the people who are participating in the organization of the events. I tried to understand the ATP in the end, because, you know, we are all trying to make this sport better. But the fact is that the players feel frustrated. The players feel they're not protected enough, I guess. So this is maybe a turning point for all of us. God knows what's gonna happen now. But, you know, I'm actually happy to see that players are getting together in some ways. Maybe this is not a greatest subject to talk about, always to be in a fight with somebody, but at least, you know, we're getting our voices out there.
Commenting on the need for the players to unite and have “a voice”…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: You don't know if the top players will arrive there. They are expected, obviously, but you cannot exclude all the other players, you know, from top 20, 30, 50, top 100 in the world. They are all part of this sport and they are all part of ATP, and we have to work together. You know, their voices have to be heard, as well, and considered strongly. But, you know, I agree. Obviously top players are the ones who are bringing the show in; I agree with that. But, again, we have to be all united in order to achieve things we want. Yeah, it's obvious. There is no secret about, you know, frustrated players out there. You could feel, could you see in the last two days. But this is you know, it was coming for many years. And we always hit the wall whenever we need to try to get something going. Why? Because we all are playing in a tour that is, you know, so demanding. We are playing in the longest season in all sports. So we are changing continents, we are changing altitude, we are changing balls, changing courts, everything in just couple days' time. There is so many things we can discuss now. But, you know, it's just a never ending story. Players have to already focus for their next match, so we cannot spend our energy on conversation and discussions. Somebody else has to do it for us. Obviously we don't have great representatives.
Commenting on the fourth year in a row with a Monday men’s final due to rain delays and no roof over the Arthur Ashe stadium…
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, for me, I guess at the end of the day it wouldn't have mattered that much. But out of fairness to the bottom half of the draw, I think it's definitely the right thing to do. What I mentioned out on court, the problem lies elsewhere, though. This is the fourth year in a row I think we're playing a Monday final. Might as well just make it a Monday final, right? (Laughter.) Or you have to change up a few things. I think the three early first rounds is not working, and then the Super Saturday I just think is not feasible. In all the Grand Slams you do not really have that competitive advantage over another player, which I don't think should be the case here. I'm sure that there has been many finals played here where one player had a huge advantage, and I don't think that should be happening before such a huge match here in the final. So I think that's where, you know, it was a good decision to make it a Monday final again. But without the roof, I just don't think Saturday/Sunday is feasible any longer at this point.
Commenting on the players’ issues with the schedule and needing a ”voice’…
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, look, I'm obviously the president of the player council, and we work very well together. I mean, we are always very aware that there is the tournaments and the players. We try to make it the best for all of us. We know that if we put a little thing over here, then something moves over there. But we try to, you know, be as friendly together as we can. With the Grand Slams, it's a whole different story. They're much further away, we have much less leverage, and I find sometimes they abuse that situation just, you know, a tiny bit. The French Open was something we were not happy about, that they started Sunday. They did. Here they have a Saturday/Sunday final. The players are not happy, but we're doing it. So we have, you know, not much say in Grand Slam play, and that's without even talking about the revenues and all that stuff. So there is a whole lot of other issues we need to work through with the Grand Slams and the ITF. But, look, nobody hopes for rain, you know. Unfortunately, in these times there's a whole lot of other issues that come out, up, and about, you know, and the press has a frenzy over it. I was happy to see that the players spoke, you know, and said something together and showed that they were not happy. But in some ways, I always hope it doesn't have to go there, especially during a Grand Slam. That we can resolve issues like this on the side. But unfortunately it has to happen at times that we do come together and speak as a, you know, big voice, all the players together. That's why actually me and Rafa, and also Novak in the beginning, you know, took an active role in the player council. Because as I said, it's enough of those things that we find out later. We should play an active role. If we don't want to complain, we should have to take an active role. That's why Rafa and myself we are where we are on the player council and at least working through the issues with the ATP. Then like I say, there is the whole ITF Grand Slam issue, whish is a tough battle to battle. We just hope that they understand the issues, you know, and the protection of the players are very important. Whatever that means, you know. I think it's very important that we do get to a table and speak, which never actually happens.
Commenting on how he feels about Grand Slam tournament scheduling, e.g. starting a day early on Sunday…
ANDY MURRAY: No, just Monday and Tuesday first rounds is fine with me. I don't think - I just don't think it's necessary to have extra days. If they want to put an extra day in, then they better increase the prize money substantially because it's an extra day's work for us. It's happened before at tournaments where they think, Oh, we'll put an extra day in, and then, you know, the tournament is getting a big increase in their -- because obviously it's a weekend so they'll get more people through the door, but that money doesn't go back into the prize money at all. So I'd rather just keep it Monday, Tuesday starts rather than the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.
Commenting after losing to Novak Djokovic in the semis having had two match points…
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, it's awkward having to explain this loss because I feel like I should be doing the other press conference. But it's what it is, you know, I mean. Yeah, I mean, it's the obvious, really. He came back; he played well. I didn't play so well at the very end. Sure, it's disappointing, but I have only myself to blame, you know.
Responding whether it was confidence or luck that Djokovic hit a winner off Federer’s first serve on Federer’s first match point…
ROGER FEDERER: Confidence? Are you kidding me? I mean, please. Look, some players grow up and play like that. I remember losing junior matches. Just being down 5 2 in the third, and they all just start slapping shots. It all goes in for some reason, because that's the kind of way they grew up playing when they were down. I never played that way. I believe in hard work's gonna pay off kinda thing, because early on maybe I didn't always work at my hardest. So for me, this is very hard to understand how can you play a shot like that on match point. But, look, maybe he's been doing it for 20 years, so for him it was very normal. You've got to ask him.
Commenting on his Grand Slam results in 2011…
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, that's a great question. Look, I think the top four guys again had a great season at slams. I definitely had some serious chances to do a bit better, and I still made, what was it, semis, finals, quarters, semis? But I think in a few of them I could have gone all the way, if not a step or two further. It's maybe, you know, a tough year in terms of some tough losses at some crucial stages of the season. Look, it's not the first time it's happened. I have had big matches where I ended up losing some, but the majority I was able to win throughout my career. Some of them you just have to move forward with also losses like this and not get too down about it. Sure you always feel like what an opportunity, what a pity, because you got to wait for a year till the US Open rolls around. But then again, the season is not over yet. I'm looking forward to what's still to come. Like I said, the year could have definitely been better, but then again, there was some reasons for that too, I'm sure.
Responding whether he just closed his eyes and “went for broke” on Federer’s first match point when Djokovic hit a forehand service return winner…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I tend to do that on match points. It kinda works. (Smiling.) No, it was a very similar situation like last year. I had to take my chances. I was very close to being on my way back home. He was serving. He was 40-15 up. Yeah, I mean, I managed to hit that amazing forehand return which got me back. I got a little bit of energy from the crowd, and I fighted back. I needed to stay positive, and I definitely didn't want French Open to happen again. It was incredible last two games…. Well, if you're playing somebody like Roger, you have to take your chances when they're presented; otherwise you're losing a match. I don't want to say, yeah, I've been in control of the fifth set, because that's not true. He was serving for the match. He was match points, and I could easily lose. But this is what happens at this stage of a tournament when two top players meet each other. Just a couple of points decide the winner.
Commenting on what his strategy would be against Novak Djokovic in the men’s final…
RAFAEL NADAL: I think I gonna do serve and volley. (Laughter.) You know, I have my game, and I beat him in the past playing my game. The thing is play my game very well and be enough strong mentally all the time, fight every ball, believe in the victory in every moment. That's something that for moments this year I didn't. But just play aggressive, try to play a similar match than last year here. I saw that match a lot of times and I know what I have to do, but I don't know if I gonna be able to do it. (Laughter.) So that's always the same.
Commenting on Andy Murray never having won a Grand Slam title…
RAFAEL NADAL: One player who is ready to play the third semifinal of the four Grand Slams the same year is completely unlucky don't win one. That's the true, no? So when you are in semifinals, when you are winning Masters 1000, the normal thing is win Grand Slams. So he's caring a little bit of unlucky in these kind of matches. I played very, very good match I this today, my best match here. That's a little bit of unlucky, too because he's ready to do it. I think if one player deserve to win a Grand Slam, Andy is the one. I seriously believe he gonna do it, and I really wish him all the best, because I really want to see him win a Grand Slam. When you win one, the second is easy. (Laughter.)
Commenting whether he ever looks up at the fans inside the huge Arthur Ashe Stadium court…
RAFAEL NADAL: When I go out and they say my name, I go out, I normally look around. That's the only moment really. The rest I am there. I don't look too high.
Commenting on what is different about Novak Djokovic and their matches against each other in 2011…
RAFAEL NADAL: Probably his movements are better than before. He's having less mistakes than before. His level is similar, you know. You cannot have big change in one moment. He's playing with high confidence. Victories like today is big confidence for everybody. He's great to keep his mind fresh in important moments, fight every point. He's doing everything fantastic. I had to win one of the first two matches against him this year, the final of Indian Wells or the final of Miami. After that I felt favorite, a little bit more favorite than in the other places in the final of Wimbledon, because I think I played very well during all the tournament. Probably played my worst match against him. But when you are playing the worst match against him, and I was playing very well before. It's because he is doing something really well. I cannot just look at me, on my side. I have to look around a little bit more and understand why I didn't play that well. He's doing a few things very well. I am not very happy about my mental performance against him this year. That's true, no? Because for moments I didn't believe really 100% with the victory. That's big problem. Because when that's happening, you have your chances less, much less than if you believe. Because if you believe, you are running more, you are putting one more ball inside. So that was problem, and that's what I gonna try to change for Monday. If I'm not ready to change for Monday, I have a goal to do it for next year. So I am ready to work hard. I am ready to work my tennis, to work my mental part, and hopefully I will ready for Monday. That's what I would like. But if not, yeah, I really believe that I can come back next year and do it better.
Commenting after losing the Women’s final to Sam Stosur…
SERENA WILLIAMS: …You know, the last 14 months has been anything less than disastrous, and it's been really, really, really hard. You know, to even have a chance to play for the US Open I would have never thought I would have had that chance, you know, seven weeks ago, I mean during Wimbledon or whatever, you know, let alone six months ago. I just would have never thought that that opportunity would have been available. So I can't be too upset at myself. I think I'm excited that I'm healthy and alive and still, you know, competing with the best… When you're playing like that, you know, she played really, really well. I mean, I don't think she's ever played that well. Maybe she has. I haven't seen her play that well. But that's what you have to do. When you're in the final of a Grand Slam you have to do that. I thought, Okay, at some point you could level out, because I know sometimes it happens. But I've played a couple Grand Slam finals where I never leveled out, so I definitely thought about it…. She was cracking them today. She definitely hit hard and just went for broke. I think sometimes, you know, a lot of people were putting me as the favorite, and I definitely was trying not to put myself as the favorite. I was like, you know, it's anyone's game, as you can see as a result today. So I think that she definitely hit really, really hard.
Commenting after winning her first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open…
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I'm still kind of speechless. I can't actually believe I won this tournament. I guess to go out there and play the way I did is obviously just an unbelievable feeling, and you always, you know, hope and you want to be able to do that, but to actually do it, is unbelievable.
Commenting on what she thought her chances were coming into the match…
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Well, I mean, I felt like I was definitely the underdog going into it, so maybe that kind of made me a little more relaxed going into this match than especially my last Grand Slam final. I think I was able to draw on a lot of that experience from the French Open. You know, I had to believe I had a chance to win. I think obviously having two victories over her in the past definitely helped me feel that it was possible. I knew that I had to go out there and play well and actually do it, but I think having those victories in the past for sure made me feel a little bit more comfortable.
Describing her thoughts on the changeover after winning the first set…
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Oh, for sure if I was gonna win, I didn't think that I'd be able to do it in 6 2, 63, that's for sure. After that first set I kind of sat down and I could feel my heart pounding out of my chest, and I thought, Okay, I'm a set up now; I've got a chance to win one out of the next two and I've got a chance.
Commenting on whether she has ever played a better match…
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Um, I don't know. It's obviously hard to compare today to any other match. I've played matches where I feel like I played lights out, can't miss a ball, and, you know, it's fantastic, but to do it under these circumstances in this kind of final against a player like Serena, for sure I'm gonna think it's one of the best days of my career, of my life of playing. So I think I've played, like I said, matches where I played extremely well, but under these circumstances it's something different.
Commenting on Serena Williams coming over to sit next to her after Stosur won the final…
SAMANTHA STOSUR: All of a sudden, yeah, turned around and she was right next to me, which is kind of unusual. No, she was great, actually. She just said, How do you feel? Are you really excited? It's unbelievable. I played really well. Yeah, I was really surprised to, you know, see her sitting next to me at that moment in time. I guess it, you know, shows what a nice person she is and what a true champion she is of the sport. To be able to separate the result a few minutes later and be able to come over and congratulate your opponent I thought was pretty classy.
Commenting after losing the Men’s Final to Djokovic…
RAFAEL NADAL: I am happy with a lot of things, much happier than the previous matches against him. In another things I'm not that happy. But in general I think he did great, no? I had my chances. I really had my chases. At the beginning of the first I had two games to love. The first set was playing really the well beginning, and I lost a little bit the way how to play and lost a little bit the rhythm. Happened the same in the second set. You know, with that very, very long game, finally I had a mistake with the smash. So few tough points for me during the match. He's doing well. He always did well in these kind of surfaces. I always had big trouble to beat him here in this surfaces in the past. It's not an exception now, especially because he's doing better than ever. But you know what? I go back home knowing that I am on the way. You know, I like to fight, I want to enjoy about this battle against him. Six straight loses, for sure that's painful. But I'm going to work every day until that changes. So I have a goal, easy goal for me now. It's going to be tough to change the situation, but the goal is easy to see. To have a goal always you know how to work every day.
Commenting on his Grand Slam results in 2011…
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't feel any obligation to win the tournament. That's the true, no? I am not that one that feels that the final is a bad result. I don't consider myself that good, you know. I fight to be always there. I fight all the time to win every match. I appreciate the result. Final is fantastic result. Winning ten Grand Slams this year I won another one, Roland Garros. I lost six finals, but I was there. So, you know, it's smart accept the loses with the same calm as the victories, and keep working without thinking on the past. I was in the final of Wimbledon, final of US Open. I fighted both of them, especially this one. I go back to Spain more happy today than after the Wimbledon final, because after here I think I am on the right way to try to win him. After Wimbledon I didn't feel that. That's it. He was good. He did really well. Last year I won three Grand Slams; this year I won one. I played three finals, and I think I played the last six, eight Grand Slams I played around semifinals. So for me is a fantastic result. It's a dream result.
Commenting after winning the final where his belief came from…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, last year I played finals of US Open and I played another great match against Rafa. I had a tournament that could easily end already in the first round when I was two sets to one down and very close to losing to my countryman Troicki. When I won that match, I overcame the challenge and I managed to come to the finals and win a great match against Roger. So I guess at this level you need those matches, those tough matches against top guys to win in order to get confidence, get self belief on the court that you can really win majors and win the big matches. So I guess it just clicked in my head. I think that throughout last couple of years I didn't change my game in any major way. I think most of the strokes are the same that they were in last two, three years. It's just that I'm hitting the shots that I maybe wasn't hitting in last two, three years now. I'm going for it, I'm more aggressive, and I have just a different approach to the semifinals and finals of major events, especially when I'm playing two great champions, Rafa and Roger. In last couple of years that wasn't the case. I was always kind of trying to wait for their mistakes or being out there and playing my best tennis and not really having the positive attitude and kind of believing that I can win. So this has changed, I guess, and the US Open 2010 was one of the turning points in my career, definitely.
Commenting on his results in 2011…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: You know, the result results that I had this year are amazing, and definitely something that I haven't expected. But it keeps coming because I think I have a great scheduling this year. I know when to have a little break, when to rest my body, when to get ready and prepare well for, you know, US Open swing, you know, the clay swing, now the Asian swing. So now I learned to get my scheduling right. And with the great team that I have, I guess that helps me to perform my best tennis in the most important events. This is, in the end the bottom line is that that's the whole point, to win Grand Slams, because these are the tournaments most important and most valuable in our sport, four Grand Slams. So this is where you want to win. Yeah, this has changed in comparison with last couple of years definitely. Right now I feel drained emotionally and physically and mentally, but it's normal, you know, after such a long year, so many matches. But I have this trophy here, and this is what I was fighting for. I'm going to take some time off, I guess.
Commenting on what he thinks about when he reflects on his great success…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I go back in my thoughts in my childhood, all these memories growing up, playing tennis, spending time in Serbia experiencing a lot of different kinds of situations and experiences in the life. That helped actually to become a better person, to appreciate things in life more. You know, I owe my parents a lot, because I think they have done a great job in bringing me up and helping me and supporting me throughout all my career. And couple of other people that have always been there for me. This is individual sport, but it's not an effort of myself. I may be on the court by myself winning or losing, I maybe take the whole credit or all the blame, but it's actually the team, the family, the support, everybody around you that spends their energy as well. They sacrifice their private life as well. I mean, all my team members, they have their own families, they have their own kids, and, you know they go through this with me and they put their energy and effort into my success. That's why it's all team effort.
ANDY RODDICK: ….until we unite it doesn't matter and people can call our bluff. If someone wants to get what they want -- you know, I have been trying to tell people that talent normally wins in negotiations. If Bono doesn't want to go on tour, then it all falls apart. But until we unite as one voice, then we're not gonna get what we want; therefore, we don't have the right to complain about it.
Commenting after upsetting David Ferrer…
ANDY RODDICK: Um, no. I didn't need this to define me. I didn't need a great result. I shouldn't have needed it to show you guys that I can play tennis. I haven't played well this year, but I have been playing pretty well for 10 years. You know, I'm happy. I feel proud that I was able to come back and play at a high level and beat a guy 5 in the world on a big stage. But I have done that before. You know, I always said, You're real close, but I had to get some matches in a row. I hadn't been able to do that.
Describing Caroline Wozniacki’s weapons…
SERENA WILLIAMS: I think her weapon is the fact that she never gives up. You saw she was playing Kuznetsova and she was down and she came back. That's probably the biggest weapon I think you can have in all of tennis. Also, she's moving really fast. She's running every ball down. That's a great weapon to have, as well.
Commenting on what she learned from the injury experience of glass cutting the tendon in her foot…
SERENA WILLIAMS: I always go out wearing either shoes that cover all my foot or most of it. I'm serious.
Commenting on the choices players make re playing matches when they don’t feel well or comfortable about the court conditions, etc. and the need for the players to have “a voice”…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I experienced many situations in my career where I would always prioritize my health regardless of the situation I'm in. Always. Because, I mean, we are all tennis professionals. We all want to win and we all want to be the best in what we do. That's a fact. But this is not something that we will do all our lives. After we are 30 or whatever, when we finish our careers, we want to still be healthy. We want to have normal families. We want to still play tennis, have the academies, be a coach, whatever, but be healthy, because this is something that matters most. So, yeah, there has been experiences where I felt that I'm hitting a wall where I think my voice wasn't heard enough. But, you know, I was very understandable. I tried to always understand the tournaments. I tried to understand the people who are participating in the organization of the events. I tried to understand the ATP in the end, because, you know, we are all trying to make this sport better. But the fact is that the players feel frustrated. The players feel they're not protected enough, I guess. So this is maybe a turning point for all of us. God knows what's gonna happen now. But, you know, I'm actually happy to see that players are getting together in some ways. Maybe this is not a greatest subject to talk about, always to be in a fight with somebody, but at least, you know, we're getting our voices out there.
Commenting on the need for the players to unite and have “a voice”…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: You don't know if the top players will arrive there. They are expected, obviously, but you cannot exclude all the other players, you know, from top 20, 30, 50, top 100 in the world. They are all part of this sport and they are all part of ATP, and we have to work together. You know, their voices have to be heard, as well, and considered strongly. But, you know, I agree. Obviously top players are the ones who are bringing the show in; I agree with that. But, again, we have to be all united in order to achieve things we want. Yeah, it's obvious. There is no secret about, you know, frustrated players out there. You could feel, could you see in the last two days. But this is you know, it was coming for many years. And we always hit the wall whenever we need to try to get something going. Why? Because we all are playing in a tour that is, you know, so demanding. We are playing in the longest season in all sports. So we are changing continents, we are changing altitude, we are changing balls, changing courts, everything in just couple days' time. There is so many things we can discuss now. But, you know, it's just a never ending story. Players have to already focus for their next match, so we cannot spend our energy on conversation and discussions. Somebody else has to do it for us. Obviously we don't have great representatives.
Commenting on the fourth year in a row with a Monday men’s final due to rain delays and no roof over the Arthur Ashe stadium…
ROGER FEDERER: I mean, for me, I guess at the end of the day it wouldn't have mattered that much. But out of fairness to the bottom half of the draw, I think it's definitely the right thing to do. What I mentioned out on court, the problem lies elsewhere, though. This is the fourth year in a row I think we're playing a Monday final. Might as well just make it a Monday final, right? (Laughter.) Or you have to change up a few things. I think the three early first rounds is not working, and then the Super Saturday I just think is not feasible. In all the Grand Slams you do not really have that competitive advantage over another player, which I don't think should be the case here. I'm sure that there has been many finals played here where one player had a huge advantage, and I don't think that should be happening before such a huge match here in the final. So I think that's where, you know, it was a good decision to make it a Monday final again. But without the roof, I just don't think Saturday/Sunday is feasible any longer at this point.
Commenting on the players’ issues with the schedule and needing a ”voice’…
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, look, I'm obviously the president of the player council, and we work very well together. I mean, we are always very aware that there is the tournaments and the players. We try to make it the best for all of us. We know that if we put a little thing over here, then something moves over there. But we try to, you know, be as friendly together as we can. With the Grand Slams, it's a whole different story. They're much further away, we have much less leverage, and I find sometimes they abuse that situation just, you know, a tiny bit. The French Open was something we were not happy about, that they started Sunday. They did. Here they have a Saturday/Sunday final. The players are not happy, but we're doing it. So we have, you know, not much say in Grand Slam play, and that's without even talking about the revenues and all that stuff. So there is a whole lot of other issues we need to work through with the Grand Slams and the ITF. But, look, nobody hopes for rain, you know. Unfortunately, in these times there's a whole lot of other issues that come out, up, and about, you know, and the press has a frenzy over it. I was happy to see that the players spoke, you know, and said something together and showed that they were not happy. But in some ways, I always hope it doesn't have to go there, especially during a Grand Slam. That we can resolve issues like this on the side. But unfortunately it has to happen at times that we do come together and speak as a, you know, big voice, all the players together. That's why actually me and Rafa, and also Novak in the beginning, you know, took an active role in the player council. Because as I said, it's enough of those things that we find out later. We should play an active role. If we don't want to complain, we should have to take an active role. That's why Rafa and myself we are where we are on the player council and at least working through the issues with the ATP. Then like I say, there is the whole ITF Grand Slam issue, whish is a tough battle to battle. We just hope that they understand the issues, you know, and the protection of the players are very important. Whatever that means, you know. I think it's very important that we do get to a table and speak, which never actually happens.
Commenting on how he feels about Grand Slam tournament scheduling, e.g. starting a day early on Sunday…
ANDY MURRAY: No, just Monday and Tuesday first rounds is fine with me. I don't think - I just don't think it's necessary to have extra days. If they want to put an extra day in, then they better increase the prize money substantially because it's an extra day's work for us. It's happened before at tournaments where they think, Oh, we'll put an extra day in, and then, you know, the tournament is getting a big increase in their -- because obviously it's a weekend so they'll get more people through the door, but that money doesn't go back into the prize money at all. So I'd rather just keep it Monday, Tuesday starts rather than the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.
Commenting after losing to Novak Djokovic in the semis having had two match points…
ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, it's awkward having to explain this loss because I feel like I should be doing the other press conference. But it's what it is, you know, I mean. Yeah, I mean, it's the obvious, really. He came back; he played well. I didn't play so well at the very end. Sure, it's disappointing, but I have only myself to blame, you know.
Responding whether it was confidence or luck that Djokovic hit a winner off Federer’s first serve on Federer’s first match point…
ROGER FEDERER: Confidence? Are you kidding me? I mean, please. Look, some players grow up and play like that. I remember losing junior matches. Just being down 5 2 in the third, and they all just start slapping shots. It all goes in for some reason, because that's the kind of way they grew up playing when they were down. I never played that way. I believe in hard work's gonna pay off kinda thing, because early on maybe I didn't always work at my hardest. So for me, this is very hard to understand how can you play a shot like that on match point. But, look, maybe he's been doing it for 20 years, so for him it was very normal. You've got to ask him.
Commenting on his Grand Slam results in 2011…
ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, that's a great question. Look, I think the top four guys again had a great season at slams. I definitely had some serious chances to do a bit better, and I still made, what was it, semis, finals, quarters, semis? But I think in a few of them I could have gone all the way, if not a step or two further. It's maybe, you know, a tough year in terms of some tough losses at some crucial stages of the season. Look, it's not the first time it's happened. I have had big matches where I ended up losing some, but the majority I was able to win throughout my career. Some of them you just have to move forward with also losses like this and not get too down about it. Sure you always feel like what an opportunity, what a pity, because you got to wait for a year till the US Open rolls around. But then again, the season is not over yet. I'm looking forward to what's still to come. Like I said, the year could have definitely been better, but then again, there was some reasons for that too, I'm sure.
Responding whether he just closed his eyes and “went for broke” on Federer’s first match point when Djokovic hit a forehand service return winner…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I tend to do that on match points. It kinda works. (Smiling.) No, it was a very similar situation like last year. I had to take my chances. I was very close to being on my way back home. He was serving. He was 40-15 up. Yeah, I mean, I managed to hit that amazing forehand return which got me back. I got a little bit of energy from the crowd, and I fighted back. I needed to stay positive, and I definitely didn't want French Open to happen again. It was incredible last two games…. Well, if you're playing somebody like Roger, you have to take your chances when they're presented; otherwise you're losing a match. I don't want to say, yeah, I've been in control of the fifth set, because that's not true. He was serving for the match. He was match points, and I could easily lose. But this is what happens at this stage of a tournament when two top players meet each other. Just a couple of points decide the winner.
Commenting on what his strategy would be against Novak Djokovic in the men’s final…
RAFAEL NADAL: I think I gonna do serve and volley. (Laughter.) You know, I have my game, and I beat him in the past playing my game. The thing is play my game very well and be enough strong mentally all the time, fight every ball, believe in the victory in every moment. That's something that for moments this year I didn't. But just play aggressive, try to play a similar match than last year here. I saw that match a lot of times and I know what I have to do, but I don't know if I gonna be able to do it. (Laughter.) So that's always the same.
Commenting on Andy Murray never having won a Grand Slam title…
RAFAEL NADAL: One player who is ready to play the third semifinal of the four Grand Slams the same year is completely unlucky don't win one. That's the true, no? So when you are in semifinals, when you are winning Masters 1000, the normal thing is win Grand Slams. So he's caring a little bit of unlucky in these kind of matches. I played very, very good match I this today, my best match here. That's a little bit of unlucky, too because he's ready to do it. I think if one player deserve to win a Grand Slam, Andy is the one. I seriously believe he gonna do it, and I really wish him all the best, because I really want to see him win a Grand Slam. When you win one, the second is easy. (Laughter.)
Commenting whether he ever looks up at the fans inside the huge Arthur Ashe Stadium court…
RAFAEL NADAL: When I go out and they say my name, I go out, I normally look around. That's the only moment really. The rest I am there. I don't look too high.
Commenting on what is different about Novak Djokovic and their matches against each other in 2011…
RAFAEL NADAL: Probably his movements are better than before. He's having less mistakes than before. His level is similar, you know. You cannot have big change in one moment. He's playing with high confidence. Victories like today is big confidence for everybody. He's great to keep his mind fresh in important moments, fight every point. He's doing everything fantastic. I had to win one of the first two matches against him this year, the final of Indian Wells or the final of Miami. After that I felt favorite, a little bit more favorite than in the other places in the final of Wimbledon, because I think I played very well during all the tournament. Probably played my worst match against him. But when you are playing the worst match against him, and I was playing very well before. It's because he is doing something really well. I cannot just look at me, on my side. I have to look around a little bit more and understand why I didn't play that well. He's doing a few things very well. I am not very happy about my mental performance against him this year. That's true, no? Because for moments I didn't believe really 100% with the victory. That's big problem. Because when that's happening, you have your chances less, much less than if you believe. Because if you believe, you are running more, you are putting one more ball inside. So that was problem, and that's what I gonna try to change for Monday. If I'm not ready to change for Monday, I have a goal to do it for next year. So I am ready to work hard. I am ready to work my tennis, to work my mental part, and hopefully I will ready for Monday. That's what I would like. But if not, yeah, I really believe that I can come back next year and do it better.
Commenting after losing the Women’s final to Sam Stosur…
SERENA WILLIAMS: …You know, the last 14 months has been anything less than disastrous, and it's been really, really, really hard. You know, to even have a chance to play for the US Open I would have never thought I would have had that chance, you know, seven weeks ago, I mean during Wimbledon or whatever, you know, let alone six months ago. I just would have never thought that that opportunity would have been available. So I can't be too upset at myself. I think I'm excited that I'm healthy and alive and still, you know, competing with the best… When you're playing like that, you know, she played really, really well. I mean, I don't think she's ever played that well. Maybe she has. I haven't seen her play that well. But that's what you have to do. When you're in the final of a Grand Slam you have to do that. I thought, Okay, at some point you could level out, because I know sometimes it happens. But I've played a couple Grand Slam finals where I never leveled out, so I definitely thought about it…. She was cracking them today. She definitely hit hard and just went for broke. I think sometimes, you know, a lot of people were putting me as the favorite, and I definitely was trying not to put myself as the favorite. I was like, you know, it's anyone's game, as you can see as a result today. So I think that she definitely hit really, really hard.
Commenting after winning her first Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open…
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I'm still kind of speechless. I can't actually believe I won this tournament. I guess to go out there and play the way I did is obviously just an unbelievable feeling, and you always, you know, hope and you want to be able to do that, but to actually do it, is unbelievable.
Commenting on what she thought her chances were coming into the match…
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Well, I mean, I felt like I was definitely the underdog going into it, so maybe that kind of made me a little more relaxed going into this match than especially my last Grand Slam final. I think I was able to draw on a lot of that experience from the French Open. You know, I had to believe I had a chance to win. I think obviously having two victories over her in the past definitely helped me feel that it was possible. I knew that I had to go out there and play well and actually do it, but I think having those victories in the past for sure made me feel a little bit more comfortable.
Describing her thoughts on the changeover after winning the first set…
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Oh, for sure if I was gonna win, I didn't think that I'd be able to do it in 6 2, 63, that's for sure. After that first set I kind of sat down and I could feel my heart pounding out of my chest, and I thought, Okay, I'm a set up now; I've got a chance to win one out of the next two and I've got a chance.
Commenting on whether she has ever played a better match…
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Um, I don't know. It's obviously hard to compare today to any other match. I've played matches where I feel like I played lights out, can't miss a ball, and, you know, it's fantastic, but to do it under these circumstances in this kind of final against a player like Serena, for sure I'm gonna think it's one of the best days of my career, of my life of playing. So I think I've played, like I said, matches where I played extremely well, but under these circumstances it's something different.
Commenting on Serena Williams coming over to sit next to her after Stosur won the final…
SAMANTHA STOSUR: All of a sudden, yeah, turned around and she was right next to me, which is kind of unusual. No, she was great, actually. She just said, How do you feel? Are you really excited? It's unbelievable. I played really well. Yeah, I was really surprised to, you know, see her sitting next to me at that moment in time. I guess it, you know, shows what a nice person she is and what a true champion she is of the sport. To be able to separate the result a few minutes later and be able to come over and congratulate your opponent I thought was pretty classy.
Commenting after losing the Men’s Final to Djokovic…
RAFAEL NADAL: I am happy with a lot of things, much happier than the previous matches against him. In another things I'm not that happy. But in general I think he did great, no? I had my chances. I really had my chases. At the beginning of the first I had two games to love. The first set was playing really the well beginning, and I lost a little bit the way how to play and lost a little bit the rhythm. Happened the same in the second set. You know, with that very, very long game, finally I had a mistake with the smash. So few tough points for me during the match. He's doing well. He always did well in these kind of surfaces. I always had big trouble to beat him here in this surfaces in the past. It's not an exception now, especially because he's doing better than ever. But you know what? I go back home knowing that I am on the way. You know, I like to fight, I want to enjoy about this battle against him. Six straight loses, for sure that's painful. But I'm going to work every day until that changes. So I have a goal, easy goal for me now. It's going to be tough to change the situation, but the goal is easy to see. To have a goal always you know how to work every day.
Commenting on his Grand Slam results in 2011…
RAFAEL NADAL: I don't feel any obligation to win the tournament. That's the true, no? I am not that one that feels that the final is a bad result. I don't consider myself that good, you know. I fight to be always there. I fight all the time to win every match. I appreciate the result. Final is fantastic result. Winning ten Grand Slams this year I won another one, Roland Garros. I lost six finals, but I was there. So, you know, it's smart accept the loses with the same calm as the victories, and keep working without thinking on the past. I was in the final of Wimbledon, final of US Open. I fighted both of them, especially this one. I go back to Spain more happy today than after the Wimbledon final, because after here I think I am on the right way to try to win him. After Wimbledon I didn't feel that. That's it. He was good. He did really well. Last year I won three Grand Slams; this year I won one. I played three finals, and I think I played the last six, eight Grand Slams I played around semifinals. So for me is a fantastic result. It's a dream result.
Commenting after winning the final where his belief came from…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, last year I played finals of US Open and I played another great match against Rafa. I had a tournament that could easily end already in the first round when I was two sets to one down and very close to losing to my countryman Troicki. When I won that match, I overcame the challenge and I managed to come to the finals and win a great match against Roger. So I guess at this level you need those matches, those tough matches against top guys to win in order to get confidence, get self belief on the court that you can really win majors and win the big matches. So I guess it just clicked in my head. I think that throughout last couple of years I didn't change my game in any major way. I think most of the strokes are the same that they were in last two, three years. It's just that I'm hitting the shots that I maybe wasn't hitting in last two, three years now. I'm going for it, I'm more aggressive, and I have just a different approach to the semifinals and finals of major events, especially when I'm playing two great champions, Rafa and Roger. In last couple of years that wasn't the case. I was always kind of trying to wait for their mistakes or being out there and playing my best tennis and not really having the positive attitude and kind of believing that I can win. So this has changed, I guess, and the US Open 2010 was one of the turning points in my career, definitely.
Commenting on his results in 2011…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: You know, the result results that I had this year are amazing, and definitely something that I haven't expected. But it keeps coming because I think I have a great scheduling this year. I know when to have a little break, when to rest my body, when to get ready and prepare well for, you know, US Open swing, you know, the clay swing, now the Asian swing. So now I learned to get my scheduling right. And with the great team that I have, I guess that helps me to perform my best tennis in the most important events. This is, in the end the bottom line is that that's the whole point, to win Grand Slams, because these are the tournaments most important and most valuable in our sport, four Grand Slams. So this is where you want to win. Yeah, this has changed in comparison with last couple of years definitely. Right now I feel drained emotionally and physically and mentally, but it's normal, you know, after such a long year, so many matches. But I have this trophy here, and this is what I was fighting for. I'm going to take some time off, I guess.
Commenting on what he thinks about when he reflects on his great success…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I go back in my thoughts in my childhood, all these memories growing up, playing tennis, spending time in Serbia experiencing a lot of different kinds of situations and experiences in the life. That helped actually to become a better person, to appreciate things in life more. You know, I owe my parents a lot, because I think they have done a great job in bringing me up and helping me and supporting me throughout all my career. And couple of other people that have always been there for me. This is individual sport, but it's not an effort of myself. I may be on the court by myself winning or losing, I maybe take the whole credit or all the blame, but it's actually the team, the family, the support, everybody around you that spends their energy as well. They sacrifice their private life as well. I mean, all my team members, they have their own families, they have their own kids, and, you know they go through this with me and they put their energy and effort into my success. That's why it's all team effort.
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