Memorable Quotes of the US Open Fortnight

On-court action and drama weren't the only memories we were left with from the US Open this year. After their matches, the stars of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour gave us something to think about in their press conferences. The following is a collection of some of the best quotes.
 
"It's hard not to think about the Olympic Games, and very difficult to refocus and get ready for the Open. Yesterday I tried to go to sleep but I couldn't because I was watching the closing ceremony from Beijing. My mind is still there. But first rounds aren't easy and I really had to focus."
Elena Dementieva after a tight first round win over Akgul Amanmuradova, during which she was down set points in the second set before prevailing, 64 75. She wouldn't lose more than four games in another set until falling in the semis.

"It means a lot to me. It has been a tough year of injuries and I haven't been able to train the way I would have liked to, so to reach No.1 is amazing. And it's something that will stay in my record -- in my biography -- for the rest of my life. Nobody can take it away from me, and I'm only the 18th player to achieve that, so it's huge. I'm really proud to join that selection of great champions."
Jelena Jankovic on becoming the 18th player in Tour history to rise to No.1. She held it for one week, during the Olympics in mid-August.

"I feel like I have a fan base in that group now. I've gotten so much support and encouragement from moms and people that haven't had kids yet, but are still inspired to have kids and do what they love. I'm certainly not the trailblazer down that road, but I feel especially in tennis it hadn't been done lately. We have one player, Sybille Bammer. We're saying you can have a kid and be successful."
Lindsay Davenport on whether she feels she has more fans now that she's a mother-on-Tour, and still knocking on the door of the Top 20.

"I'm not thinking about anything right now; I'm just enjoying the moment, and I will see what's going to happen next," Coin said. "I'm just playing match after match. I don't realize yet that I beat the No.1 in the world. I don't realize that I played on the big court. I don't know how I'm going sleep tonight."
Julie Coin after pulling off the biggest upset on paper in Tour history over Ana Ivanovic in the second round. At No.188, she became the lowest-ranked player ever to beat a reigning world No.1. And it was in her first Tour main draw as well (her first round win was her first ever Tour main draw match).

"It's very frustrating, because I know I can play so much better. It was a very, very disappointing loss for me, but it's something I just have to accept, especially with everything that has happened in the past month or two. If you asked me if I'm playing like No.1 at the moment I'd say probably not, but I can't judge too much on that because I really haven't had chance to practice. This is an incentive to work harder. I'm very, very motivated to go straight back on the court. Honestly, I don't need any time off, because I had plenty of it without tennis."
Ana Ivanovic after falling to Julie Coin in a second round stunner. After winning the French Open and immediately ascending to No.1, the Serb has gone 4-3, a disappointing record that has probably been largely due to a right thumb injury hampering her preparation and schedule for the summer.
 
"That was last millennium, so last millennium. It's kind of a kid thing. When you're a kid you wear beads. You can't mess your hair up because your hair is in beads. Now I'm a little older and I can figure it out most of the time."
Venus Williams, when asked whether she might bring back the beads she and Serena used to wear throughout their early years in the 1990s.

"To be No.1, you have to play a lot. You need to keep a busy schedule, unless you win every tournament you enter. I don't think it's realistic to say I'm trying to get back to No.1, considering the fact I've been struggling with injuries all year, and especially before each Grand Slam except this one. It's more realistic for me to say I am aiming to do well at the tournaments I play, and being prepared."
Amélie Mauresmo after being asked whether she has her sights set on a return to No.1. She seemed headed out of the Top 40 in mid-summer but has worked her way back into the mid-20s over the last month thanks to semifinal finishes at Cincinnati and New Haven and a fourth round run at the US Open.

"We don't have a player who can be very consistent throughout the year. There are ups and downs from a lot of players in the Top 10, and of course some great performances, but we don't have anyone like Justine, who was able to win every single tournament she was playing. Maybe that's the reason."
Elena Dementieva, who had a chance at No.1 at the US Open, on the recent race for the top spot. Six players began the US Open fortnight in contention.

"I don't think that has ever happened. I guess that's what's called the yips on your serve. I don't know where it came from. It probably came from all my years of making fun of other people that had it. That was my karma coming back."
Lindsay Davenport on her late-match struggle against Marion Bartoli in the third round. During one of her last service games she served seven faults in a row.

"We wouldn't fight much at home - the only thing I can remember is me messing the room all the time and he had to clean it up. But on the court we'd fight, and I'd learn a lot from him. I'd be getting angry and crying when I was playing and he hated it. He'd tell me I was behaving like a baby. He'd say, 'Come on, you have to grow up. You cannot behave like this.' He would mostly give me advice like that. I learned a lot from him and I can still learn many things from him."
Dinara Safina on whether she and brother Marat Safin fought when younger.

"I think that's been one of my biggest strengths. That was always a drill I did every morning on the wall. I'd count how fast I could hit 100 volleys against the wall. I did that every day for probably 15 years. That's had a huge impact with doubles. It's great to have great hands up there. Liezel hits the ball so well from the back, and I'm up there. It's intimidating for the people on the other side."
Cara Black, when asked about her clutch volleying during the mixed doubles final. Playing with Leander Paes for the first time, they won the US Open title, beating Liezel Huber and Jamie Murray in the final.

"I got the runner-up trophy here, and you know what I was thinking? You guys and the commentators all say there's all this drama when I play. So, I think I should have also gotten an Oscar, for all of this drama throughout the two weeks. I enjoy the crowd and I like to have fun. I think I've done a great job!"
Jelena Jankovic during her post-match press, after she finished runner-up to Serena Williams. Always humorous with the press, she jokingly addressed the comments that her matches tend to have more drama than the average match (and in New York they did, as she was twice pushed to three sets before the quarters, then had four set points in the second set of her 64 75 finals loss).

"I've been working so hard all year. Sometimes I wake up at 6am to go and practice and it's too dark, and I wait until it gets light. No one really, really knows the work an athlete puts in. But it's all worth it. It's all paying off. I'd feel like gosh, I've been working the hardest, so I should win."
Serena Williams on the work ethic that brought her to the 2008 US Open title.

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