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I was super nervous. I couldn't wait to actually go on the court and play. It was a long wait. I was like, 'Okay, I'm ready to go. When is it coming? What time is it?' I just think I really handled well the situation after that little slack in the beginning. I'm glad I could stay humble and just take it one at a time. Just keep fighting, keep fighting, and changing the momentum.
Victoria Azarenka on winning the 2012 Australian Open.
You're just like relieved and you're happy and you're like excited. There's so much going on through your mind that you just can't pick one thing what's really happening to you. Improving my fitness in the off-season is definitely one of the biggest things I've done. It helped me mentally to know that I can handle it. I can play for as long as I need, really have to be focused on myself. Whoever's on the other side is going to make trouble, no matter who that is, and they're going to try to win. For me it's important to stay positive and stay on the same track, focused … In finals can happen anything.
Victoria Azarenka on reaching the finals at the Australian Open.
I am very happy about my result on these two weeks. I did much better than what I thought, what I dreamed for three weeks ago. So very happy for everything. It's a fantastic victory for me. Very, very happy playing against the greatest of the history in semifinals, big match on Rod Laver. It's one of the victories that's going to stay in my mind forever, no? But if the opponents in the final play better than me and he beat me, I going to go home very happy about my tournament. I going to go home knowing that the way that I am working is working very well, and keep working on this way. Probably this way give me a good success in the next months.
Rafael Nadal after beating Roger Federer to reach the final of the Australian Open.
It was a great match. We played almost three hours. After a couple of games I was feeling, "Wow, this is going to be a long night'. You have to hang in there with a player like Ferrer. He has a great fighting spirit and he always makes you hit the extra shot. I figured out I needed to step in.You know, I think I was hitting the ball really well from the baseline. He had his times in the match where he was playing really well. I think, you know, my serve could have been a little bit better. But overall it was a great performance.
Novak Djokovic after beating David Ferrer in straight sets to reach the semi-final of the Australian Open.
I knew the danger of playing Juan Martin, so potentially it was my big test. But I kind of looked at the Tomic match as a big test for me, seeing where my rhythm was, how I was playing, because the first three rounds I didn't get much rhythm. For me it was maybe that match. Today I was much more relaxed about playing Juan Martin for some reason, even though he's got the much bigger record as a player.
Roger Federer after defeating Juan Martin Del Potro to reach the last 4 at the Australian Open.
It's true is difficult against a player like him, because you don't have chances on return. He hit the ball very, very hard and very flat. Very difficult to find the rhythm.I was nervous because he was playing well. I thought that I didn't put enough balls in when I was returning … I wasn't able to hit the ball deep. My movements weren't enough strong, enough fast.
Rafael Nadal on beating Berdych at the Australian Open.
My previous best result is 2008 US Open round of 16. That was couple years ago. And I played well end of last year, and now it's like this. So, yeah, I feel I'm stepping up. I never feel the pressure. You know, it's a great honour to make a lot of history, to be No.1 player in Japan. But that never gives me the pressure. Hopefully people, especially kids, start playing tennis in Japan. But first of all I have to play well and I have to give them good news, to Japan. You know, if that helps Japan, I'm really happy.
Kei Nishikori after beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to enter the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
It's a part of my game that I constantly work on, being quick, working on the physical part. It's one of the most important things in the game because it has become a lot more physical and much more demanding on the body. Also in the last few years I'm stronger, I'm able to withstand much longer matches, which helps me, and also the recovery. I think that's why my success has been a lot better on the clay. But it's an area that I always try to improve. I'm 6'2" and I think for somebody at that height, I still feel like I can be better.
Maria Sharapova after beating Sabine Lisicki to enter the last 8 at the Australian Open.
The match today was difficult basically in the beginning because was really hot, and Philipp play difficult tennis for me. He make very good backhands down the line and playing the slices and serves and volleys. It's not easy for my game, but I was really focused trying to take all my break points, and then I close the first set with my serve; then take a little advantage in the second, and then my game start to feel more aggressive and confidence.
Juanmartin Delpotro after beating Philipp Kohlschreiber at the Australian Open.
For me, it's a great pleasure and honor to play him. You can just only get better if you lose against him. The harder I hit it, the ball comes back in a different corner and ends up always being a winner. It's very strange. Never did experience my balls that I hit that hard to come back and to be a winner.
Bernard Tomic on losing to Roger Federer at the Australian Open.
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