"The change I feel is fans are really supporting me and telling me I'm still No. 1 and still the best -- "You're going to be there again" and stuff. So I feel like I've got unbelievable support from the fans watching me and seeing people in the streets and stuff. It's kind of really nice."
– Roger Federer talks about being the No. 2 seed after an easy opening win at the US Open
"I would walk and I would hear the crowds saying 'Oh, this is the sister of Marat.' I think forever I'm going to be his little sister."
– Dinara Safina, on whether she's becoming better known than brother Marat Safin
"I think she's totally ready to win her first Grand Slam."
– Marat Safin, on his sister Dinara Safina's recent hot streak
"I think if she will be doing everything opposite of what I've been doing throughout the years she will be No. 1 in the world for a long time."
– Marat Safin, on sister Dinara Safina
"If you make a foot fault this way it doesn't make any difference... doesn't help me to serve any better. It's stupid rules that somebody made in, I don't know, 1850 and now they give me problems with these things. And it shouldn't be that way."
– Marat Safin, arguing that the foot fault rule should be changed
"I'm 28. I've been already on tour for 10 years, and I want to enjoy my tennis. I don't want to fight anybody. I don't want to be facing problems on the court... I just want ot have a nice match, win or lose, and whatever happens to go home. That's it. I don't want to face the foot faults and all these things."
– Marat Safin, expanding on the foot fault incident
"I think at the moment it's a lot to ask for."
– Ana Ivanovic, on whether she can expect to win the US Open after a patchy first-round win
"We were making jokes at the Olympics that I should try to compete at something else [an athletics event] because I was just doing running and sprints."
– Ana Ivanovic, on being limited to off-court fitness work because of a thumb injury
"I think it's hard to stay motivated to the utmost degree. The labor is just so extreme. It's pain, you know, to get yourself in that physical shape and that mental shape to even compete and deal with the adversity of opponents and travel and the rest of the whole tour. The precursor to what actually goes into everything you see here is just kind of daunting over time."
– Vince Spadea, on staying committed to a tennis career
"Wherever I am I make it a good one."
– Vince Spadea on the best cocktail parties he's attended in his 15-year pro career
"I do struggle with self-doubt. Sometimes when I'm in a match I do get tight and I get nervous. I think the difference with seeing some great players is that can work through that. I always try to think of current players that can work through that, like Nadal and Federer. I'll be like, 'Okay, if they can do it, I can do it too."
– Serena Williams, on the emotions she feels during matches
"There was this guy - I think he's from great Britain - playing badminton, stocky guy. We were watching him on TV and he won. And I was with James [Blake] and Robby [Ginepri], we were eating lunch and he walked in with a sleeveless shirt like he was the man of the Olympics -- twenty minutes later, like this power walk. So kind of funny.
"The other thing I thought was weird too is the gymnasts are so much smaller than you actually think. On TV they're small, but when they walk in packs, it looks like a group of second-graders."
– Sam Querry relates some memorable Olympic moments
Monday's Results of Note
Marat Safin (RUS) def. Vince Spadea (USA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
A zany matchup to begin with, this lived up to its potential and more with a five-set struggle and a controversy over Safin's center line foot fault in the last game of the fourth set. Safin's post-match outrage was almost as good as the match.
It appears that the call from the linesman at the other end of the court was correct -- Safin's back foot did step behind the edge of the centre line -- but that didn't stop Safin (and John McEnroe in the commentators' booth) from arguing that the rule should be changed...
Sam Querrey (USA) def. Tomas Berdych (CZE) [22] 6-3, 6-1, 6-2
The upset was relatively predictable, but the scoreline was not. An impressively measured performance from Querrey.
Tommy Haas (GER) def. Richard Gasquet (FRA) [12] 6-7(3), 6-4, 5-7, 7-5, 6-2
Haas has the magic touch when it comes to five-setters at this tournament. It looks like Gasquet's painful loss from two sets up against Andy Murray at Wimbledon might actually end up as the highlight of his year.
Ana Ivanovic (SRB) [1] def. Vera Dushevina (RUS) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
After a one-sided first set, Ivanovic let things get away from her before breaking early in the third and managing to hang on to that lead for the win. But a little rust is inevitable, given that she was playing just her third match since her shaky Wimbledon performance and had to limit hitting practice because of a thumb injury. She reports that the thumb is now pain-free, but also admitted that she hadn't played like a title contender in this round and would have to try to work her way into the event.
Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) def. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) [11] 6-4, 6-2
Groenefeld was thrilled after this win, and why not? The German former Top 20 player whose career wobbled and then went completely off the rails when a vengeful ex-coach began publicly attacking her. But she's worked her way back up this year, starting with German league matches and then challengers and now a win in a Grand Slam over the 11th seed.
Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) [32] def. Natalie Dechy (FRA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
The mumurs about a Mauresmo revival of sorts continue after she rallies to defeat her compatriot and peer.
Tuesday's Matches to Watch
Andy Roddick (USA) [8] vs. Fabrice Santoro (FRA) Arthur Ashe Stadium - 2nd evening match
If Santoro is indeed retiring at the end of this year, he's made his Grand Slam farewells in style this season -- against Roger Federer on Rod Laver Arena in Australia, David Ferrer on Court Philippe Chatrier at the French Open, Andy Murray on Centre Court at Wimbledon (a career wish)... and now Roddick on Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open?
Roddick isn't in great form after a few injuries this year, but has managed to overcome Santoro the last two times they've met and should do so again. But don't discount the Magician's ability to extend the match with some sparkling play -- he's done it twice in this stadium in the past, once against Federer and then against James Blake last year.
Lindsay Davenport (USA) [23] vs. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) Arthur Ashe Stadium - 7:00 pm
After a good performance in her first-round match, Davenport is the favorite against the big-serving Russian, but her form and physical health is hard to predict match-to-match these days.
Novak Djokovic (SRB) [3] vs. Arnaud Clement (FRA) Arthur Ashe Stadium - 3rd match
It's been a funny few months for Djokovic -- he's the only person who's beaten Rafael Nadal since Rome, but he hasn't won a title since Rome and has lost to Nadal in the semifinals of their other four meetings during the period. But he doesn't have to worry about another semifinal against Nadal at this event, having landed in Roger Federer's side of the draw.
Clement, a speedy and wily veteran, hasn't done much since his quarterfinal run at Wimbledon and shouldn't pose too much of an obstacle for the Serb.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) [19] Santiago Ventura (ESP) Grandstand - 12:30 pm
After an amazing run to the final in Australia, Tsonga hasn't played since May because a knee injury that eventually required surgery. It's a bit surprising to see him here given that he was a no-show in New Haven last week, and it'll be very interesting to see how he looks in this match.
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