Top

Quote machine: 2009 Australian Open, Day 12


 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 15:22

Fernando Verdasco on his five-set epic match with Rafa
You know, we both played unbelievable. I think Rafa, I said always, in these matches, five sets, he is the toughest player. I was there all the time, too. So for sure I will have this match in my mind all my life.
Im so proud of all the things I made today and these two, almost two weeks.

Fernando Verdasco on the meaning of his open palm hand gesture
Is just something that I have with my friend. Is just like hi, you know. But only one special thing I have with one friend that is here with me. The same like do this (clenching fist). Just one thing more. To have motivation and be all the time 100% in the match.

Fernando Verdasco on Rafas phenomenal defensive skills
He gets unbelievable balls. You need to win the point against him three or four times more than against all the other players.
Anyway, there are so good players like Federer, Murray, Roddick, Blake, whatever, all the top players. With Rafa you need to win the point three times more than with all the others.

Rafael Nadal compliments Verdasco after the match
For sure for me is amazing be in this final, especially with one match like today, no? Fernando was playing I think his best level in his career. He continues like this, hes gonna have chances for be in any number of the ranking, no? So for win against Stepanek, 6?4, 6?0, 6?0, against Murray and against Tsonga, he must play very well, no? Hes doing very well, yeah. Too well.

Rafael Nadal on the match scheduling debate
Well, this little bit unlucky play one match like today, too hard. So for sure Roger gonna be in much better performance physically than me for the final. But at the same time I gonna try to be recovered for the final and play my best. I dont know if we can do something because we are involved of the council. But the true, right now I not ready for speak about politic.

Rafael Nadal on making his first Aussie Open final
But for sure for me is amazing play another final of Grand Slam. Here in Australia, the first one. Well, unlucky all the time is against the same: the best. For sure, I prefer another opponent. But thats makes big the sport, too, no, finals like this.

Laura Robson on reporting her success to her mum
My mum, I told her not to watch on the live score, because I think thats really horrible watching on there. So, she usually just goes to bed and then she kind of wakes up for my texts to say if I won or not.

Laura Robson on signing autographs
The little kids are really cute, so I dont mind doing theirs.

Laura Robson summarises her performance in the semi-final
Yeah. I mean, I just did my best today, and that was good enough. I didnt start so well. I felt really out of energy throughout the whole match really, so it was good to get through it.

Serena Williams sees the benefits from playing singles and doubles
It definitely does serve as practice. Although when Im practicing, like today I was practicing singles instead of doubles, for my match. So, Im having a lot of practices and a lot of workouts, but its fine. I just look at it like Im burning lots of calories.

Serena Williams on mentality
Sure. I mean, I have mental issues, too, so I think everyone has mental issues.

Serena Williams remains level-headed about her 13th Grand Slam final
Maybe a little bit during. But I feel like I have nothing to lose. Im just going out there and trying to win another Grand Slam. If I win, that would be great. If I lose, Ill just leave with the confidence that I can get far in a tournament when Im not playing my best and go home and work even harder for the next time.

Dinara Safina on her relationship with brother Marat
I mean, sometimes it happens that we dont talk to each other for two weeks. But there is not much, and then we will speak every day. We know that were both good, and thats the most important thing. We have a very close relationship.

Dinara Safina on feeling mentally tough before the final
As I always say, to get to the Grand Slam final, you have to go through all these kind of things. That makes you stronger, to play the match like against Jelena when all the crowd is supporting her.
But I think I stayed very tough mentally there. I didnt panic. I didnt do anything. You know, made me stronger now.

Dinara Safina on her game plan for the final
Tomorrow definitely Ill have to concentrate only on myself and the opponent, nothing else. If I start to think about something else, I can just start to pick up the balls.

Venus Williams on the first time her and Serena played doubles
I think when we first started playing, we thought we knew each other so well we didnt have to talk between points.

Serena on Venuss talented net play
Shes covering the whole net. At one point today I literally stood back and she took care of everything.

Now get the WORLD’S BEST TENNIS MAGAZINE here


Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.