Press Day: Serena, Novak, Naomi, Stef and more sound off from "Cincy"

The Western & Southern Open begins on Saturday in the new bubble setting in Flushing Meadows, and the loaded player fields are eager to get started after being on hiatus for nearly six months. Before main draw matches get underway on Saturday, the biggest names in the sport were in press providing some quotable moments.

Here’s a roundup of what was said in the virtual press room:

Serena Williams, on managing risks:

"I didn’t want to be in the hotel because I have lung issues, so it felt like its as actually a big risk for me personally. At my house I can control more. As much as I want to be here, it’s great, but I have genuine health issues that I just really needed to put my mind at rest to even be able to perform in New York"

Serena on her way to the 2019 US Open final. (Getty)

Daniil Medvedev, on the famous New York crowds:

"It's going to be really sad without the New York crowd, because I think at the end what happened is that this year they would be a lot for me, I hope."

Coco Gauff, on the bubble entertainment:

"On site they have a lot of outdoor games like basketball, pool, soccer, paddle tennis, bean bag. They have a cool nine-hole mini golf course. At the hotel they have PS4's, Ping-Pong, typical arcade games and they also have karaoke. I don't think that's been a big hit because I don't think anybody wants to go up and sing in front of everybody at the tournament."

Andy Murray, on opting for the hotel over a private house:

"It's just the costs were astronomical, so I went for the bubble. It's nice. They've done a really good job at the hotel. They've got games and arcades and things like that, which I enjoy. Still a bit of a child in that respect."

Naomi Osaka, on hosting her Instagram Q&A's during quarantine:

"I'm not really a conversing type. It was really hard for me to come up with those questions in the first place, so I'm not sure how you guys are able to do it every day. Don't worry about your job because I'm not coming for it."

Novak Djokovic, on his private house:

"[The cleaner] can come in only when when we aren’t there. When we are there, no one can come in. We are absolutely alone. We're getting on. We're adults. It's nice being together. We're playing cards and games. Goran [Ivanisevic] rarely wins, but that might change next week."

Djokovic awaits Tommy Paul or a qualifer in the second round. (Western & Southern Open)

Stefanos Tsitsipas, on what's good about this year:

"What’s good about the new US Open is it is going to be in the record books. It has never happened before, I assume. You are part of history I guess. That’s what makes it different."

Sofia Kenin, on if she's decorating her hotel room:

"No, I just order food and I sit back and relax."

Madison Keys, on defending her title:

"It's definitely strange to be defending my Cincinnati title not on Cincinnati courts, which hopefully we don't ever have to worry about again. I think the biggest thing is it's strange getting ready for a tournament that's not the US Open at the US Open. That's been a little bit weird for my brain to try to figure out."

Dominic Thiem, on the level of safety:

"Honestly, I'm zero percent nervous or scared about traveling here. I think we are safer than anywhere else on the whole planet in this whole bubble here."

Karolina Pliskova, on what she missed most:

"I miss everything about tournaments. I miss to be in tournaments, miss to be in my hotel room. Actually, I love this life. For me was on one side I said, OK, I had great time to be with my family, great time to be at home, but I was just like, it was enough. So I was just ready to fly somewhere, no matter where, just to play some tournament."