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12/9/09 7:15 PM | Ricky Dimon
Players made headlines in 2009 not only with their play, but also with their mouths. It’s time to take a look at some of the funny, controversial, sincere, memorable, and bizarre quotes from the four Grand Slams.
“My body is still alive. That’s important.”
-- Fernando Gonzalez, after beating Richard Gasquet 12-10 in the fifth set at the Australian Open.
“I’ll try again later. God, it’s killing me.”
-- Roger Federer, during the Australian Open trophy ceremony.
“Rog, sorry for today. I really know how you feel right now. It’s really though. But you remember you are a great champion. You are one of the best of the history. You are gonna improve on the 14 of Sampras.”
-- Rafael Nadal, during the Australian Open trophy ceremony.
“When you're that close to winning, it hurts when you play against the second best player in the world.”
-- Tommy Haas, after losing to Federer at the French Open.
“I think the difference is based on the fact that his game is really a pain in the ass.”
-- Gael Monfils, after losing to Federer at the French Open, when asked what the difference is between him and Federer.
“Yesterday me and my coach were joking, you know you beat me nine times in a row before this match, and we were saying that nobody can beat me 10 times in a row. But we were wrong. But just so you know, for next time we play, nobody can beat me 11 times in a row. I promise you.”
-- Robin Soderling, to Federer during the French Open trophy ceremony
“He is going to have a great future if he gets to the point of recognizing to come into the forecourt and play there rather than 15 feet behind the baseline.”
-- Larry Stefanki, Andy Roddick’s coach, on Andy Murray after Roddick beat Murray at Wimbledon.
“Yeah, but you had already won five.”
-- Roddick, after Federer told him that he knew how it felt and “don’t be too sad” during the Wimbledon trophy ceremony.
“Liberate this man.”
-- a journalist at Wimbledon, bringing Roddick’s post-final press conference to an end.
“I'm different than another person who wants to lay back and do nothing for rest of the life and talk nonsense on ESPN, talk about my match against Sampras. I will not do that. I want to achieve something else.”
-- Marat Safin after his final Grand Slam match at the U.S. Open.
“Well, what are the options? I can sit out there and watch the celebration, watch the interview, or go to the locker room. At that point the locker room sounded like a good place to be.”
-- Roddick, when asked why he walked off the court so fast after losing to John Isner at the U.S. Open.
“I have two dreams. One is the U.S. Open. The other one is be like Roger. One is done.”
-- Juan Martin Del Potro, during the U.S. Open trophy presentation.
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I hadn't read before what Monfils had said about Fed after losing in the FO, hilarious, I'm almost certain Davydenko annoys people too taking everything so early. Just rushes you into mistakes.
eelesino , 12/9/09 8:36 PM
great article :)
i think you should have included part of rafa's statement where he pulled out of wimby though. that was definitely a key moment of the grand slam year
Sib69 , 12/9/09 9:31 PM
For those whose memories don't go back that far, Soderling borrowed this joke from Gerulaitis who famously said after finally beating Connors at the 17th attempt in 1979: "Nobody beats Vitas Gerulaitis 17 times in a row".
ed251137 , 12/9/09 9:45 PM
Sib69 - thanks for the suggestion.
I think that is more of a "story" of the year rather than a "quote" of the year.
Other suggestions are welcomed. (Just make sure they are Grand Slam quotes; non-Grand Slam quotes of the year will come later).
RickyDimon , 12/9/09 10:17 PM
ok. erm... how bout rafa saying "you need defeat to give value to victories" (i'm paraphrasing) after he lost to soderling?
i can't think of anymore atm...
Sib69 , 12/9/09 10:50 PM
Good stuff Ricky. I think you should have included Nadal's post match comments after loosing to Soderling.
_______
"?Defeats never make you grow, but you also realise how difficult what I achieved up until today was, and this is something you need sometimes.
You need a defeat to give the value to your victories.?
"I must accept my defeat with the level of calm that I accept my victory"
___________
That coming from a 23 yr old was just classic!
imjimmy , 12/9/09 11:02 PM
good stuff. keep 'em coming.
RickyDimon , 12/9/09 11:06 PM
Marat Safin's quote was the funniest *tears in my eyes*... I've going to miss his humour.
cable , 12/10/09 9:19 AM
Yes imjimmy, that quote coming from a 23 yr old is truly classic and impressive; what more, it comes just moments after his greatest defeat. He was composed and calm during the press conference, even though we know deep down in his heart, the defeat hurts him seriously. What a guy this Rafa is, that's why we love him.
luckystar , 12/10/09 11:56 AM
Rafa's was the gem as many pointed out. Deserves to be the best quote of the year.
vmk1 , 12/10/09 4:42 PM
?I think the difference is based on the fact that his game is really a pain in the ass.?
Hahahah this is one of the funnist.
Believe , 12/11/09 6:47 AM
"?Yeah, but you had already won five.?
-- Roddick, after Federer told him that he knew how it felt and ?don?t be too sad? during the Wimbledon trophy ceremony."
Thats brilliant as well, cant really compare Federer's one loss to Roddick's 3rd.
SGHIceman , 12/11/09 11:54 AM
Re Andy Roddick's remark - which I must say was very classy in the circumstances and a sure-fire Quote of the Year - I thought Roger Federer was really referring to the fact that he lost three French Open finals before finally winning the title there, and not saying that he knew what it felt like to be a runner-up at Wimbledon. As such, he was saying words of encouragement to Andy. But this was not, to my knowledge, clarified in the subsequent presser. As such, I cannot be sure about it. It's just my interpretation of things.
gorafago , 12/11/09 8:19 PM
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This is very cool! Good idea Ricky!
thefanchild , 12/9/09 8:20 PM