Who said what on the ninth day of the French Open at Roland Garros on Monday:
“I think I believe more in myself… believing in myself was the key I think to taking another step and playing at a higher level.”
— Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, who reached a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time at the age of 28
“I had to learn this today, but the best players in the world on a stage like that in a tournament like this, they are not messing around. Maybe she just had a great day today, but I really felt like she was coming after me.”
— Emma Navarro on the lessons learned from her straight-sets loss to Aryna Sabalenka
“I was, like, okay, no, Aryna. Just focus on yourself. You don’t have to do better than her. It’s okay. That’s just her world like these bagels. This is something about Iga. Just leave it for her. I will be nicer to my opponent.”
— Sabalenka on not getting carried away trying to match Iga Swiatek’s 6-0, 6-0 win in the last 16
“It’s very sad because I know that so many of my friends and people I know that are right now in the frontline and losing their lives in this horrible war. So, of course, it’s very sad for me, very sad topic as well because, you know, people and media is not talking about it anymore.”
— Elina Svitolina on the ongoing impact of the Russian invasion of her native Ukraine, which began in February 2022
“When they were screaming ‘Varvara, Varvara, Varvara’, I imagined they were screaming my name and it really helped.”
— Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva on blocking out the partisan support for Moscow-born Varvara Gracheva, the last Frenchwoman to exit the draw
“I wish her the best. She’s a nice girl. I hope she can win everything. She has the talent. Yeah, life in tennis is not easy. Let’s see how she copes with it.”
— Daniil Medvedev sends his support to Andreeva, who at 17 years and 27 days is the youngest women’s quarter-finalist in Paris since 2005
“I have nothing to lose (against Djokovic) and I’m going to try and enjoy it. It’s always tough. No matter where you play against him it’s one of the toughest matches in our sport.”
— Casper Ruud looks ahead to his quarter-final with Novak Djokovic
“I don’t know what will happen tomorrow or after tomorrow if I’ll be able to step out on the court and play. You know, I hope so. Let’s see what happens.”
— Djokovic casts doubt on his fitness after picking up a knee injury in his five-set win over Francisco Cerundolo
“He always finds a way to come back and play his best tennis at the toughest moments and at the end of every match. He showed again why he’s the best.”
— Cerundolo on Djokovic
