An Interview With Novak Djokovic (after his US Open semi-final victory over Roger Federer)

Q. First of all. That was an absolutely remarkable match.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Thank you.

Q. You should be extremely proud of yourself. I imagine you are. The emotions on the court after the match, can you just talk about that moment and reflect?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: As I said on the post?match interview, it’s one of those matches that you will remember for the rest of your life, not just because you won against one of the best players that ever played this game at that occasion, but as well, you know, coming back from match points down and under the circumstances playing good tennis and winning in the end, the thriller, you know. Read more »

An Interview With: Roger Federer (after his US Open victory over Robin Soderling to reach semis)

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Q. Is it possible that you actually enjoy playing in the wind?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I think by now I do, yeah, because I see it as a challenge and I see it as an opportunity to play differently. It’s not easy, you know. It’s cold. Everywhere it’s blowing. You feel like it’s blowing through your ears and into your eyes. But I think I used to dislike it so much that I’m on the other side now. I was able to turn it around and kind of take enjoyment out of playing in the wind, actually.

Q. Everybody was complaining about how the wind affected their games, ruining their concentration. Why were you able to serve, you know, that accurately painting the lines like you did? Read more »

An Interview With: Rafael Nadal (after his US Open semi-final win over Russian Mikhail Youzhny)

Q. The shot a lot of people were wowing about was the one where you kind of had to do the 360.

RAFAEL NADAL: It was not a big hit. I thought it was an instinct shot. I thought it was not another chance to put the ball inside, because I was running to the net, thinking I gonna have a volley, but Fernando hit a very good slice backhand and the ball pass at me and I had to hit the ball very late. I had to turn the 360 to have enough space to put the ball inside. I don’t know if you understand with my English.

Q. What do you think of the conditions out there? Read more »

An Interview With: Kim Clijsters (after her US Open semi-final 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 victory over Venus Williams)

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Could you talk about the backhand topspin lob and your decision to hit that shot there?

KIM CLIJSTERS: Um, I mean, I thought as long as I try, keep trying, I’ll have to make one. Because I think all of the ones I tried before she got to, so I think there were two there that were really important, which was the one where, the one she got to, the one that dropped in and I finished off with the forehand winner down the line. Then the next one was obviously the probably most important one where I broke. Yeah, I mean, you know, I don’t know. I mean, it’s instinct when you decide to do that, and it worked. I mean, it worked. It was an important point, and I’m happy to get through.

Q. Were you thinking about the wind on that shot? Were you thinking it might sit up in the wind a little bit? Read more »

An Interview With Vera Zvonareva (after she reached her US Open final with a 6-4 6-3 victory over the top seed Caroline Wozniacki. She will meet Kim Clijsters in the final).

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What was the key to your victory today?

VERA ZVONAREVA: Um, I think it’s the same probably as the previous match, very similar. It’s the right balance between being patient and being aggressive. You know, with those windy conditions you have to play sometimes ugly, you know. You don’t have to expect to play your best tennis. That’s what I did well. I was not expecting to play my best tennis, but, you know, I was trying to be patient when I needed, and step up when I got the chance. Read more »