Start of PhotosStart of article textDon't quote me: Australian Open 2007Sunday, 28 January, 2007
After 254 singles matches, 157 doubles matches, 126 junior singles matches, 62 junior doubles matches and 68 wheelchair matches, Australian Open 2007 is finally at an end. But all those players left us with plenty to remember both from their racquets and from their mouths. Here's the best of the latter: "I mean, look, I guess I'm the best tennis player in the world. You can call me a genius because I'm outplaying many of my opponents, kind of maybe playing a bit different, you know, winning when I'm not playing my best. All of that maybe means a little bit of that. So it's nice," a 'humble' Roger Federer after winning his third Australian Open title. "I mean, Roger took every opportunity. I had my opportunity in the first set. I couldn't make it. I feel that he's a great player. He can make everything," Fernando Gonzalez in awe after being beaten in the men's final by Roger Federer. "Half of them, they left after the first two sets with us it was quite boring. We had to stay. I cannot say it was really a beautiful match, but it was a lot of fighting. I guess some people that stayed, they really enjoyed it." Marat Safin candidly talks about his five-set win over Benjamin Becker in the opening round of the Australian Open. "[Has Jimmy taught me] how to challenge line calls? No, he's taught me how to yell at referees. No, there's no really teaching line calls. There wasn't a challenge when he was around." Andy Roddick takes his frustration out on the chair umpire during his hard-fought first round win over Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. "It was really tough. You know, it was hard to think about what you were going to do on court because you were just mentally trying to find a way to kind of make the points shorter and basically trying to find way to win. But sometimes when it's that hot outside, your mind doesn't work properly." Maria Sharapova after almost losing in the first round to Camille Pin of France.
Question: What's the proper way to address you now? Is it Mr. Ambassador? Is it Your Honor? "You decide. You can also call me Roger, it's okay." Roger Federer remains humble after beating German Bjorn Phau in the first round. "U.S. women's tennis is struggling a little bit, I guess, but we have a couple solid players; namely Venus Williams and Serena Williams (laughter), and those two players are amazing (laughter). I think the best you guys have yet to see." Serena Williams blows her own trumpet after beating Nadia Petrova. Question: Alex talked about you being a role model for him and other players. At your ancient age, how does that feel? "Man, until you said "ancient age," I felt pretty good about that one." American James Blake finds out he's one of the 'older' guys on tour. "It's great playing her and everything, but I don't want to see her in the quarterfinals ever again (laughter). It's like every time I get to the quarters I have to face Kim. In a way, I'll be happy." Martina Hingis gives her take on Kim Clijsters' pending retirement. Question: When was the last time you played in conditions that hot? We were boiling where we were. You must have been feeling it big time down there. "Yeah, it's definitely tougher on court for me (smiling). I mean, it is really hot on the court." Andy Murray finds a journalist's take on the weather amusing after beating Verdasco. Question: Is your serve -- do you think that's the area that -- to get you up to the real elite of the ATP, that's the area that -- "So I'm not in the elite yet?" Murray again takes exception to another question. "I love to read. I love reading novels. I read all the Harry Potter books. I'm not reading the last one because I was crying at the last one I read. I'm not going to read any more. I'm too emotionally involved (laughter). I read like a Nelson DeMille novel. One of my favorite books is called The Charm School. I read this one book called Gideon. I read that new one that came out, Eragon. The book was so much better than the movie. I was so disappointed with the movie. I was waiting like six months for the movie to come out. I read a lot of that. I watch tons of TV." Serena Williams reveals her taste in literature and movies after downing Israel's Shahar Peer. "I couldn't believe it actually. I couldn't really believe that this is the way that my last Aussie Open was going to finish. I looked up the crowd as I went out. The flags, Aussie stuff everywhere. It was an amazing atmosphere." Australian Wayne Arthurs reflects on his exit from the Grand Slam after fall foul of a general anesthetic. Question. What would you say Jimmy's major contributions have been to you? "Just check the transcript from the last 16 press conferences." Andy Roddick gets asked about Jimmy Connors again! "Honeymoon was the same preparation for the season. I was in Maurice two week. It was the same. Honeymoon, tennis, mix everything together." Russian No.3 seed Nikolay Davydenko lets his new wife know where she fits in on the pecking order. Question: Do you think sometimes the media exaggerates on the importance of the coach? "The media? They wouldn't exaggerate something (smiling). Are you kidding me?" Andy Roddick gives his take on the press. "I came back from dinner at like 9:00pm, so whatever was left of the match, yeah." Maria Sharapova tells how she missed Andy Roddick's short-lived semi-final against Roger Federer. Question: Your performance here is better than on court. "My performance here is better than on court? No s--t. If there were rankings for press conferences, I wouldn't have to worry about dropping out of the top five, I hope." Andy Roddick after being thrashed by Roger Federer agrees with a journalist's summation. "I don't know about you, but I saw two great men's semifinals. I saw the No. 1 player beat the 'H-E double hockey sticks' out of another player. I saw Fernando González beat the 'H-E double hockey sticks' out of another player. Those were great matches. Today you saw the No. 81 player win a great final." Serena Williams gives her take on the men's semi-finals. |