Who Said What: The most interesting quotes from French Open week 1
The Day 10 of any Grand Slam is one that is full of thrilling action because that is when the business end of a Major starts. But this year, things are completely different at the 2016 French Open.
With rain lashing hard on Paris for most of the day, it is a difficult time for both the players and the fans. Here is a collection of some of the best and most interesting quotes from the first week that will surely brighten up your mood:
When you have a professional career spanning more than two decades:
“Sometimes I do think about some players, and I’m like, ‘Wow, I played them and now they’re coaching and they have grandkids.’ “
- Serena Williams on her retired opponents
The retirement that never happened:
“So Roland Garros announced my retirement, but I didn’t. So you can stand up all of you and go back to work in the office because I didn’t say that. I will announce when I will want to stop.”
- 2010 champion Francesca Schiavone
The vegan World No. 1:
“Vegan with eating a little bit of fish here and there.”
- Novak Djokovic revealing his new eating habits
Wise as ever:
“Who needs ranking points if you’re playing for a gold medal? Gotta get your life in perspective. I’m trying to get a gold. I don’t need any points.”
- Venus Williams on whether ranking points should be awarded for playing in Olympics.
When being old is cool:
“It’s the only time when being old is okay.”
- 37-year-old Ivo Karlovic on becoming the oldest man since Jimmy Connors in 1991 US Open to reach the third round of a Grand Slam
When your win improves your head-to-head record to 4-11:
“I said to everyone after the match, I was like, Jeez, I can’t remember being so happy to win third round. Yeah, it means a lot.”
- 2010 runner-up Samantha Stosur on beating Lucie Safarova, who has proved to be a very difficult opponent for her all through her career
When you leave no chance for death threats:
“It’s nice because it’s private for me. I haven’t put my name out there, so it’s just my friends. The fact that people can’t write death threats to me after matches feels really good.”
- Madison Keys on Snapchat
When you manage to do some damage control to your reputation:
“Yesterday evening my five-year-old son said to me: ‘When it’s doubles, you win cups. When it’s singles, you lose all the time.’ I’m happy that back home tonight I can say ‘I won this one’.”
- US Open doubles champion Nicolas Mahut after winning his first round in singles in Paris
Playing in Olympics should be every sportsperson’s goal:
“I cannot understand people who don’t want to go. The Olympics is the most important event in sport. If you don’t want to be at the most important event in sport, it’s difficult to understand the motivation for anything else.”
- Nine-time winner Rafael Nadal is baffled to see so many top players opting not to participate at the Olympics
When you learn from your failures:
“The road to success is not straightforward. It definitely has some curves and some bumps and I’ve learned that first-hand. It’s the way life is as well, and you have to be able to take the bad with the good. I learned a lot more from the bad than the good.
- 2014 semi-finalist Eugenie Bouchard
Never give up:
“If it doesn’t happen, there is always another year. I don’t have any intention of slowing down yet.”
- Three-time Roland Garros runner-up Novak Djokovic on his elusive French Open title
When your dreams do come true:
“I always dreamed it would happen but I'm not sure I thought it could.”
- World No. 108 Shelby Rogers on reaching her first ever Grand Slam quarter-final