Notes and Quotes from 2025 US Open Media Days
(August 23, 2025) FLUSHING, NY – Several players participated in the 2025 Media Days, the two days leading into the US Open. Here are some of the more quotable quotes and exchanges from some of the players.
Novak Djokovic
Q. I wanted to ask you about throwing out the first pitch at the Yankees game.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It was a great experience. I want to thank the Yankees organization for making it possible for me. It was my first baseball experience overall. First time visiting any baseball game.
It was a packed house, almost 50,000 people. Obviously big rivalry. Probably biggest rivalry you have in the baseball, with Red Sox and Yankees. Got that privilege to be able to access the locker room and meet Aaron Judge and the guys. So impressed with Aaron particularly and his size. I mean, he’s humongous. I mean, incredible. (Laughter.) Yeah, he was very nice. I gave him a racquet, signed racquet, and he gave me a bat.
Yeah, I was warming up with one of the guys for that pitch. It was in the level ground. Then once I got to go and, you know, throw the first pitch, I was on elevated ground, like a little hill. I didn’t throw that accurate, but it still wasn’t as embarrassing I think as some of the other guys I saw in the past (smiling).
Yeah, it was fun. It was really… I was treated very nicely, and I was very honored to be there. To be honest, I became a fan. You know, I didn’t follow baseball that much, didn’t know what to think of it, to be honest. But since yesterday, I really became a fan.
I followed it as everyone was giving me, like, a little bit of details and insights on the game. Then, you know, once you really understand it and you follow it, then you really immerse in it. I really liked the experience.
I didn’t stay all the way through to the end, but I watched more than half of the game and really enjoyed myself.
Q. You haven’t played much at all since Wimbledon. You had spoken I think at Wimbledon about sort of that balance of getting to the late stages in tournaments and having no gas in the tank. I guess you have to balance the rest against coming in without too much preparation. I was wondering if you could speak about your preparation ahead of this and also, you know, how it feels to come in cold, probably the wrong word…
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: ‘Cold’ in terms of the matches, official matches. Obviously I didn’t have any matches since Wimbledon. So it is the right term in a sense, but I have put in a lot of training in last three, four weeks.
I decided not to play because I wanted to spend more time with my family. And to be honest, you know, I think I earned my right and have the luxury of kind of choosing, picking and choosing where I want to go and what I want to play.
To be quite frank with you, I don’t enjoy the two-week Masters events anymore. It’s just way too long for me. My focus is mostly on the slams, and I have said that before.
But I also like other tournaments. I’d like to play more of the other tournaments, but I just, we have currently informally, unofficially, 12 Grand Slams a year, you know, when you think about it. I mean, Grand Slam is two weeks and the other Masters events are almost two weeks, as well.
So yeah, it’s just not any more prioritizing the heavy schedule as I used to. I’m not chasing the rankings or building up my points or defending, et cetera. I just don’t think about it anymore.
For me, it’s really about where do I find motivation and joy? Where will I be inspired to play the best tennis? And where do I care to be, really, and play?
And slams are obviously the four main tournaments where I always feel the most motivation. Then the other tournaments here and there where… I don’t actually have any schedule other than slams, to be honest.
I kind of like feel in the moment what I want to do and how I want to balance things out with other priorities in life. Family being, of course, the main one and being there for the important dates, speaking of which I’m going to miss out, maybe going to miss out on my daughter’s birthday. It’s the 2nd of September, so if I’m doing well I’m still here.
But those are types of things that I really don’t want to be missing anymore. So it’s just on a personal level for me important to be there, to show up, you know, for the people that have been showing up for me for all these years playing tennis.
Q. Seems like a lot of the guys on the ATP have been against the two-week Masters. Complaints from the players. Also fans think they go along too slowly. Do you think there should be talks about switching back or is it just set in stone?
NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don’t see how that’s going to happen, to be honest. The contracts are quite solid, as I understand, 30-year contracts.
I don’t know. Unless all the Masters events come together and the ATP board on the tournament side is supportive of the idea of going back, which I really doubt, I don’t know what the sentiment is from the tournament side, to be honest.
But I have noticed that a lot of top players have been quite opposing the new change of the almost two-week events, the Masters level.
Yeah, I support the players. But in the end of the day, when the players needed to be active and when there was a time of negotiations and decision-making, players weren’t participating enough.
This is an ongoing story of the players, particularly top players. They express their feelings, but then when you really need to put in the time and the energy into conversations, meetings, which I know it’s very difficult. I have been there, trust me, many times.
But it’s necessary because then, you know, you’re doing something not only for yourself but future generations, and you’re making the right moves, the right steps, and contributing.
I don’t know. I don’t know. Let’s see what happens. I just doubt anything will change in the foreseeable future when it comes to these contracts that are quite solid and bring a lot of revenue to the tournaments.
Jessica Pegula
Q. Year after year, our sport goes from one site to another all around the world for months and months. There are so many aspects to the game: competition, travel, self-growth. What gives you the most joy from this sport?
JESSICA PEGULA: Oh, wow. That’s a deep question. What gives me the most joy?
I mean, the sport is so hard and I think at times it’s super challenging and you can have so many ups and downs within a span of a week or a tournament or a month or a year or whatever it is.
But I think I love the individual aspect of it. So I feel like when you do hit that stride of when you’re winning and you’re problem-solving and finding ways to win or dig yourself out of matches or winning tournaments or whatever that is, the feeling that you get from kind of doing it on your own I think is kind of unmatched to maybe some other sports. Even though I love playing doubles or team sports or team formats and different things that I played, it’s just different.
It makes it so challenging and so hard when you’re out there by yourself. But I think at the end of the day competing and kind of backing yourself, because there is no other option, has always been to me, like, the pinnacle of kind of why I play.
I think also being able to do that out in front of a stadium, it’s hard, like, you have to be pretty fearless to go out there and accept that one of you guys are going to fail in front of the world by yourself on a court.
So I think that’s something that makes it really tough, but at the same time, when you come out on the other end of those matches, it makes it really rewarding.
Ben Shelton
Q. We have seen this week Jack Draper switched his clothing manufacturer. For you, what do you get out of the On partnership, how important that thing is to you and tennis players.
BEN SHELTON: What was the question?
Q. Your relationship with On is a similar situation as Jack. I wonder for you how important that sponsorship is, what you get from it compared to being with a different brand.
BEN SHELTON: I just don’t get the comparison, because I started with On.
Q. He’s moved. He is not with one of the big ones.
BEN SHELTON: So On is not a big company? Did you see the earnings report a couple of weeks ago?
Q. I mean the conventional ones for tennis players.
BEN SHELTON: It’s not a Nike or adidas? Sorry, bro. I don’t like that question (smiling).
BEN SHELTON: I deleted X like two-and-a-half years ago. I haven’t looked back.
But yeah, I think for me, kind of my evolution as a professional and as an athlete, just being smarter about my preparation and what I do in the days before or the day of, watching film has been a big one for me.
I think it’s really important. I think that being able to visualize what you’re doing out there on the court is important, and see the things that you want to do and the plays you want to make before you make them. That’s been a big one for me.
Once I get to that place where I have seen those things that I have a clear mind about what I want to do out there on the court, I’m a lot more at peace before going into the match. I’m not still thinking or up in the air about how I want to play or what I want to do out there on the court.
I think the night before or morning of, being able to figure out exactly what I want my game plan to be, how I want to play, and kind of just let it go, and then when match time comes, I’m okay with just walking on the court, you know, trusting myself and not overthinking it.
Q. Great support team and obviously your relationship with your dad. Kind of a personal question, but your middle name’s Todd and your late uncle was a fabulous player, top five in dubs. Comes from a really big family. Could you talk about him? Has he had any meaning in your life? Just talk about that aspect.
BEN SHELTON: Yeah, middle name after him, Todd Witsken. He passed a couple years before I was born, brain cancer. Great player. Top 30 maybe in singles. 2 or 3 in doubles. Comes from a massive tennis family.
I’ve got tennis roots on both sides. I think he won Toronto twice in doubles. That was pretty cool. Now I’ve won a title that my dad’s won and now I’ve won a title my uncle’s won, even though it was doubles.
So yeah, it’s cool. A lot of people tell me that athletically there are some similarities between me and him. He was built a little bit more like me. Not quite as tall but great athlete. A lot of guys just talk about how much they enjoyed being around him back in the day.
Yeah, tough obviously situation. But, yeah, I think that it’s cool for me to kind of be able to follow in the footsteps and follow a couple, like, figures in my life who have done cool things in the tennis world.
Madison Keys
MADISON KEYS: I think in my experience it’s really about letting yourself kind of prepare for it. I think a lot of us sometimes you kind of push it off because you know some of those feelings are going to start creeping up and they are going to be kind of scary and sometimes feel kind of hard to deal with.
But I think going into it, knowing that there is going to be some nerves and some jitters, and just walking out there, one, having already thought about it, and two, knowing they’re going to happen and knowing that it’s fine if they happen, and you have the tools that you need to kind of navigate through them.
Q. In tennis there are so many aspects to the pro game, traveling the world, the competition, self-improvement. What makes you happiest about being a tennis pro and having this life and this career?
MADISON KEYS: I think the biggest thing that I have come to really appreciate about my job is all of the little kids that we kind of get to see and inspire. You know, just the little moments of walking through the airport and having someone run up to you and want an autograph and something like that. It really just kind of puts everything into perspective.
Sometimes the travel is really hard and you just have, those are kind of the moments where you get to play tennis for your job. So I think it’s sometimes we should touch grass and appreciate that (smiling).
Aryna Sabalenka
Q. We have noticed that Coco Gauff is now working with Gavin MacMillan (Sabalenka’s dormer serve coach). Could you reflect on maybe how long it took you in terms of working with him to implement the changes that you ended up…
ARYNA SABALENKA: Yeah, I’m really grateful for his help during really tough times. For me, he really helped me with the serve. I really appreciate him for everything.
You know, everyone is different. I was really desperate for changes, and I was ready to change whatever, to change my serve and to get better and to finally, you know, get back on track with my serve. So for me, it was basically, like, couple of weeks, and I was sort of fixed.
But everyone is different, and I wish them both the very best and hopefully everything can work out well for them.
Jannik Sinner
Q. Jim Courier talks about how we have moved from this era of the big three – Rafa, Roger, Novak – to the new two of you and Carlos. What do you think of that label? Are you surprised at all that the two of you guys have won the last seven majors and not let anyone else win?
JANNIK SINNER: No, you know, if we don’t continue to improve, players will catch us. It’s just a question of time. So we or what I am trying to do is to understand where I can work on. Then we have certain areas of the game certainly where we can work on. From my point of view, that’s positive. It only makes me a better tennis player and in the future.
To have rivalries, it’s great. You know, it’s good for the sport, it’s good for personal view because, you know, sometimes when you’re tired in practice, you know, you try to simulate certain things, because they can happen in the real match.
At the moment, me and Carlos, we are sharing big trophies, but in the same time, things can change. You know, you never know. There are great, great players out there, and to the way to the final, it’s very difficult to get there, you know.
So let’s see if this continues. But in the other way, I always say we have to improve, because players, they understand us now how we are. So let’s see in the future.
Q. Following up on that, what do you think are the characteristics that make your rivalry special right now?
JANNIK SINNER: Well, we are two different players, you know. I think he is obviously very fast on court. So, you know, with maybe other players, the point could be over at times, but he reaches to certain balls, so he can read the game in a different way.
They are already these longer rallies sometimes. Obviously we know each other now better. It’s very tactical game. He prepares the match in a different way than he used to prepare it. Me and my team, we do the same.
We have different styles, you know, game styles, but also how we are on the court and off the court. We are just different, you know.
But in the same time, it’s great to see, because it makes it very interesting. The only thing we have in common is we practice very hard (smiling). We make choices for tennis, you know.
It’s now our first priority at the moment, which it has to be, because it’s very small, small details make the difference. So it’s interesting to see.
Q. You said that you have already achieved more than you have ever dreamed about in this sport. I just wonder, what were the original dreams like? How did you picture your career when you thought about it?
JANNIK SINNER: I remember… What did I say? To my parents I said — I was younger when I left home, and I said if I’m with 23, 24, and around not under the top 200, I would stop, you know, to play, because we cannot afford it, you know, with the money what we have. It costs a lot of money to travel around the tournaments. If you have a coach or… I was very lucky to, when I was already 18, that I started to earn my money, and I felt already safe.
When you’re young, you just say a dream. You don’t even believe it, you know. I used sometimes to say I want to be No. 1 in the world or you want to win a Grand Slam. It’s really just a dream. It was way beyond my dream, you know, being in a position where I am.
So now it’s different. Now, you know, I understand my potential. I understand that if I play well that I can win tournaments, and so the point of view is different.
But if you ask me when I was young, I was just, if one day I would have been top 100, I would be the happiest, you know. So everything now is just a big extra.
Coco Gauff
Q. Saw you working with Gavin on the court in the rain. Dedication. Could you talk about a decision to split with Matt and why you brought Gavin on board?
COCO GAUFF: Yeah, it was, like, a very sudden decision. Gavin became available. I just felt this was the best decision for my game at least and I had to go with what I was feeling. Matt, I think Matt is a great coach and a great person and 100% love working with him. Yeah, I mean, we obviously had a very successful partnership, but I’m just looking at long term.
I know Gavin has had experience with this before so, hoping I can just take on his knowledge and see what can happen.
Q. Following up on that, what’s it like trying to make technical changes or adjustments or contemplating making technical changes days before a major tournament?
COCO GAUFF: I mean, a tournament is a tournament. I hate losing regardless of where I am. If this was a 250, I would feel just as crazy to do it.
Yeah, I felt this was a good opportunity. I don’t have that many points to defend honestly in this part of the season. I’m one of those people, I’m looking at long term. I hope I can get it all together – I think I’ll play either Monday or Tuesday – by then. If not, I have the rest of this year to work on it.
But I do know I needed to make a change, technical change to it, and I don’t want to waste time continuing doing the wrong things.
Q. Was there any part of Gavin, Oh, shit, right before the Open?
COCO GAUFF: No, he’s a confident person. Also, I mean, no, I mean, obviously there is pressure on both of us. But at the same time, I mean, I’m not thinking about the outside opinions. I’m not thinking about that. I’m doing what’s best for my game.
I feel as an athlete I can be, Yeah, I won French Open, made two finals back to back, quarters of Australia. I can be, Okay, I’m doing fine and continuing playing the way that I’m playing. But I know where I want to see my game in the future. I’m not going to waste time playing the way I don’t want to play.
Q. We saw you practicing in the rain on Wednesday. What was behind that decision? It was hurricane-like rain.
COCO GAUFF: When I was in the rain, it was drizzling. People made it seem like I was, on social media, like I was in a hurricane. It was literally drizzling. The courts weren’t that wet.
I have served in the rain a lot. The decision was I wanted more reps, and the indoor courts were all booked and I couldn’t get an indoor court.
Q. I know you’re a big Love Island fan. Any other TV shows or books you’ve read this summer?
COCO GAUFF: Weapons was pretty good. I love the Fourth Wing series. Love Island is really the only reality show I have gotten into. I tried Temptation Island, but I was like, This is just dumb. Who goes on the show with your boyfriend? That was just stupid.
Then I have been really bad with the books. But into Anime, the usual. I have been bad with the media. Love Island took up my whole summer, quite literally. I’m trying to work up the courage to invite one or two of the cast members to a match. But I don’t know. I don’t have the courage.
Emma Raducanu
Q. A new coach since we saw you at Wimbledon, Francis. Can you talk about what it was about him that led you to that choice? In your early few weeks with him, what were some of the things you developed new in your game again?
EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I think we’re working a lot on the court, putting a lot of hours in. He loves spending time on court, as well. But we find a good balance. It’s not all just serious. Also time passes so fast, which is a good sign whenever you’re spending time with someone. Overall, I think just working on the quality of my shots and improving them.
So I think so far it’s been going pretty well, but I need more time, for sure.
Q. Obviously he worked so long with Rafa Nadal. Was that a factor in you wanting to link up with him? What sort of lessons do you think you can take from the work that they did together?
EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I think it’s always nice if someone has been around for such a long time, especially with someone like Rafa. So very experienced. You can tell, you know, when we’re at these big events, at these big matches or tournaments with a lot of people, there is a big element of calm assurance in the matches. There is no stress or panic, which it definitely rubs off on me.
I feel overall in certain situations on the practice court, even certain shots, if things aren’t going well and aren’t going perfect, I feel overall like I can just trust in my game more.
Q. The selection process with Francis, how did you know he was available? Who reached out to who? Is it a decision you make about your coach yourself without input from others? Did you speak to family, agents? Can you tell us about that?
EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, after Wimbledon, I always knew Mark helped me so much over the last few months since Miami, but we always knew it was going to be difficult to keep things going forward with his commitments and everything.
After Wimbledon, it was quite a good match with Aryna. I think quite a lot of people watched it. I think it helped my case, so I’m happy about that (smiling).
After that, I just asked Jill, who is looking after me, and I was, like, Oh, do we have any more ideas? Because ideally I wanted to come into the U.S. swing knowing I had someone in a coach. That’s how it happened.
We arranged a few days before I came out to America. Yeah, it went well, but he couldn’t start until Cincy. Since then we have been practicing and working well.
Q. Three years ago you were carefree, you could walk around freely. Do you think you will ever get to feel that way again in this world of tennis?
EMMA RADUCANU: Well, I think compared to four years ago, I feel relaxed, I feel happy, I feel in a way like the same off court in terms of just enjoying my tennis, enjoying practicing, enjoying competing, and the process of getting better. I think I feel the same in that sense.
But I am just more aware now of everything that is possible. And, you know, when I won in ’21, I didn’t know, I guess about this world of potential negativity and bringing people down, bringing players down.
I’d say that kind of affected me a lot in the last few years. It still definitely gets me from time to time, but overall I think I can enjoy what I’m doing day to day a lot more, I have good people around, so yeah, I’m just happy that I’m in this place with my tennis.
Frances Tiafoe
Q. Speaking of needing something new, you have spoken about like sort of tennis modernizing itself and maybe being like other sports. Would you like to see things loosen up in terms of the etiquette between players? Like that thing that happened at the track meet in Oregon a couple of weeks ago when Lyles and Bednarek had that happen in their sport, like if that happened in tennis, it would be…
FRANCES TIAFOE: Bonkers.
Q. It would be crazy bonkers. You’re an NBA fan, that stuff happens every quarter in an NBA game and life just goes on. Fans like it, crowds like it. Would that ever fit in or would you like to see it fit in?
FRANCES TIAFOE: Obviously in a different way. At the end of the day it is a gentleman’s sport, quote unquote. Would I love it? Absolutely, man. I’d love to be like, I don’t like you. It’s like two guys who just don’t, and you battle it out. You can feel that. It’s anticipation. For y’all, you can write about it and talk about it.
I wish there was a lot more of that, because, I mean, like you lose a tough match. Oh, man, I’m so happy for you. No, you’re not. (Laughter.) Like, you’re not. You’re just not.
But again, with respect to the game and how it has been going for so many years, you say those certain things. But it would be cool to see the game go that way. Ultimately it’s a gentleman’s game. But why not? Shake it up a little bit, right? Within reason. I’m always a fan for that, no question.
Q. Coco was talking about the importance of having big brands involved in tennis and how important the fashion side of things is. Wondered if that’s something that you think about or that she was talking about it does make a big difference to her that she’s wearing stuff she believes in and looks and feels good. Is that something you ever think about?
FRANCES TIAFOE: Of course, man. You look good, you feel good, you play good. It’s really that simple, for sure. Hence why I’m wearing a hat and need a haircut, man (smiling).
It’s just different. She is wearing like the Miu Miu stuff on fire. Of course, man, you’re always going to feel really good if you feel good and look good.
Q. How did Lululemon come about? Did they sort of approach you? Did they feel there was a synergy straightaway?
FRANCES TIAFOE: Lululemon?
Q. Yeah.
FRANCES TIAFOE: Yeah, man. Obviously I’d been with Nike for a lot of years. I wanted to go to the market to see what the market was like. There’s a lot of interest for me in the market, and more than Nike did. Obviously, I had opportunities to be the face of a brand which was a different mindset.
You know, I can build, and they can grow, and they can brand me. They are at their best at the highest level. I kind of decided, Why not do something different? Why not be ‘the’ guy instead of one of them? There are a couple decent guys, a couple decent athletes, that are over at Nike (smiling). It was nice to kind of be the face of a brand, for sure.
Venus Williams
Q. Given that this is the 75th Anniversary of Althea Gibson playing her first US National Championships, what does it mean to you to be celebrating this anniversary and Althea’s legacy, and for the US Open to celebrate it as well?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I think the most important part is that we are celebrating it and recognizing it, because Althea accomplished so much, and a lot of it has not been given the credit it deserves and the attention and the praise.
I think that’s the most important part to me, just shining light on it and seeing, just acknowledging that.
Q. I wondered what sort of expectations you’re putting on yourself for this event?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I want to be my best, and that’s the expectation I have for myself, to get the best out of me. And that’s all any player can ask for.
I haven’t played as much as the other players, so it’s a different challenge when you’re dealing with that. So I’m just trying to, like, have fun, stay relaxed, and be my personal best.
Q. In your earlier press conferences, you spoke about hitting even when you were not playing competitively. I wonder at what time of the day you do it? Are you a morning person? Do you like to hit in the morning? Or does it change every day? And why do you hit the tennis ball?
VENUS WILLIAMS: I like to hit in the mornings. I like to get out of the sun, if that makes any sense, save whatever is left of my skin.
I think I’ll always play tennis. It’s in my DNA. So it doesn’t matter if it’s now or 30 years from now. God willing, I’ll be here, we’ll all be here, we’ll all be hitting balls. Maybe I’ll come back to watch. Maybe I’ll be saying I did it better, and it won’t be true. But in any case, tennis will always be one of the most important parts of my life.
Naomi Osaka
Q. It’s the first time we have seen you since the final in Canada. I just wondered, in the aftermath of that, the presentation, et cetera, how did you process the next few days? I just wondered how you felt when you came off court and settled down into trying to think about what had happened there.
NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly, I’m going to try to word it so I don’t get caught up.
But I don’t really know what was written, to be honest. I just got messages from people telling me what’s potentially being written. So to this day, I honestly couldn’t know what you’re referring to.
But, like, I know you’re talking about the congratulations part, yeah. So for that, I made sure to talk to her, because I know she’s young. I don’t know. Like, I feel really terrible if that, like, somehow impacted her humongous success.
But she said it didn’t and she didn’t even really notice, so I was really glad about that. I was also really glad that she’s such a sweet girl, which also just made me feel terrible even more.
Yeah, I don’t know. I feel like for me, I was just trying to get through it so quickly that I forget a lot of things. And even going into the final, I wanted to, like, potentially write my speech, because I know how I am talking and doing speeches. So that was, like, kind of a lesson to stick to my instinct a little.
Yeah, I will definitely remember to congratulate my opponents.
Q. After that difficult final, in the days after, were you able to reflect on the positive aspects of that week and that tournament where obviously you made a big breakthrough and made a big final?
NAOMI OSAKA: I would say yes and no. Yes, because obviously, like, my biggest goal was to be seeded in a tournament, and that’s something that kind of I knew immediately.
Then no, because I just felt really bad and, like, shame. I think I felt worse for my team, because we couldn’t really celebrate properly. They were with me this entire time, so they knew how big of a deal the final was. Just knowing that I can go back to I don’t want to say “that level,” but just know that I can be there.
Q. What do you mean by “shame”?
NAOMI OSAKA: Like if I did very greatly offend Victoria, like that part.
Q. After that difficult final, in the days after, were you able to reflect on the positive aspects of that week and that tournament where obviously you made a big breakthrough and made a big final?
NAOMI OSAKA: I would say yes and no. Yes, because obviously, like, my biggest goal was to be seeded in a tournament, and that’s something that kind of I knew immediately.
Then no, because I just felt really bad and, like, shame. I think I felt worse for my team, because we couldn’t really celebrate properly. They were with me this entire time, so they knew how big of a deal the final was. Just knowing that I can go back to I don’t want to say “that level,” but just know that I can be there.
Q. What do you mean by “shame”?
NAOMI OSAKA: Like if I did very greatly offend Victoria, like that part.
Amanda Anisimova
Q. I wonder what you can take from that Wimbledon run that applies here. I know it’s a different tournament and setting, but what do you want to make sure you have in your mind this time having had that experience of being a finalist?
AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Well, I’m just taking it obviously one match at a time. I mean, I haven’t even started the tournament yet.
Yeah, I think just having that experience and experiencing what that final was like definitely gives me some thoughts and, like, certain things that I can bring with me going into this tournament, especially dealing with the stress and the tension of it being, like, a home slam, and there is a little bit of pressure on me.
Yeah, I think just the way that the final went, it gave me a better perspective on how I should be handling my nerves.
Q. Ten years ago you won the juniors here, and you crushed Coco.
AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Oh, my God, it was so long ago.
Q. That’s what I want to know. Did you ever think back and realize it’s been ten years since you won the juniors? I know you needed ten match points to do it. Do you think about that match and sort of your journey?
AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I don’t like thinking about how, like, long ago certain things were. It makes me really sad to see how fast time is going by.
But yeah, it’s really special, like, coming back. I always think about the junior tournament and ending my junior career on that note, which was really special.
Yeah, that was the only junior slam I had ever won. And for it to be US Open was even more special. I remember, like, the court I played on. Like, every time I practice on Grandstand, I get a little bit of that memory, which is cute.
But yeah, it’s crazy to think how far I have come since then. And also Coco, I mean, we were, like, babies in that final and we are doing really well now, so it’s good to see.
Q. A bit more of a frivolous question. This summer, have you had in your free time been listening to anything, music or watching any movies, watching any TV shows you have been enjoying?
AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I don’t know if I should even be saying this, but I watched The Hunting Wives. Then I was on the plane. It’s so funny how the title is so similar to this other show I watch, but it’s called The Hunting Party. It’s one of the TV shows on American Airlines. It’s actually really good. I have been enjoying it.
And yeah, I just like mostly listen to house music. I’ve been listening to the same three songs every single day. I don’t know if there is something wrong with me or if there is anybody else who does that. Until I get sick of them, I have to listen to the same songs over and over. And I won’t connect to the car, because I can’t play the same song over and over.
Taylor Fritz
Q. When you leave here, you’ll go straight to Delray and get ready for the Davis Cup, and then go on to Laver Cup with the same three guys. You’re great buddies. Can you talk about that camaraderie a little bit and what makes it so special, particularly the four of you?
TAYLOR FRITZ: Yeah, I mean, as far as it goes with, like, Frances and Tommy, like, I have known them for since I was, like, pretty young, like over ten years. Then obviously Ben has kind of come in the last couple of years, but we all get along really well. Those are some of my absolute closest friends. You know, I have known them for so long. We are traveling all around the world together for so long.
Yeah, I’m excited. These team events where I get to spend a lot of time with them is always a lot of fun.
Q. Last year at the Laver Cup, Frances had a tough loss, and it kind of turned the tide a little bit. What can you do for each other in those tough moments?
TAYLOR FRITZ: I mean, we just cheer each other on, pump each other up. Last year it came down to Frances and myself at the end, and both of us lost.
The year that we won it for the first time, which was the most exciting one, London, it kind of came, it was the reverse. It came down to myself and Frances. Before Frances went out and played, we kind of, like, we were pumping each other up. I was, like, Go out and get this. If not, Play free, don’t worry. I got it.
One of us just had to win, and so we just pump each other up and cheer each other on. It gives that extra bit of energy when we’re playing.
Iga Swiatek
Q. I’m curious what the last 72 hours have been like. When you got here you had to really hit the ground running. To process Cincinnati and practice…
IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, for sure, that was probably the weirdest turnaround between tournaments I ever had. It was super rushed and quick.
But I’m really happy that I got the chance to play mixed doubles. It was amazing. I got days off after, so I think that was a necessity and a smart thing to do before a long tournament.
So all good, and yeah, it was totally worth it. The mixed doubles was amazing.
Q. I know you’re a pretty voracious reader. Any books you have read this summer you enjoyed and would recommend to others?
IGA SWIATEK: I read The Bee Sting. It was really good. I think it was a bestseller two years ago. That was the one. Now I started a new one. I don’t know yet, because I just started.
I watched one episode of Game of Thrones finally. Please, no spoilers. I started finally, yeah.
Q. A question about exhibitions, how different people and players draw a line about what is an exhibition and what isn’t. For you, how do you define what makes something an exhibition?
IGA SWIATEK: Well, if it’s not an official event…
Q. What does “official” mean?
IGA SWIATEK: Held by WTA or ITF. What are the other answers?
Q. Could be something regarding ranking points, which some events do or don’t have. Laver Cup is a men’s event but it gets debated on that front.
IGA SWIATEK: Wait. They don’t get points for Laver Cup? So they don’t treat it as an exhibition?
Q. It’s debated. Some people disagree.
IGA SWIATEK: Yeah, maybe because it’s considered like a big thing to win Laver Cup. But I would still I think call it an exhibition, sorry.
Q. It’s not offensive.
IGA SWIATEK: I don’t know.
Jack Draper
Q. You have recently changed your clothing sponsor. Could you talk about how that happened and why you made the switch?
JACK DRAPER: Yeah, I mean, obviously I have been with Nike for many years. My contract was running out this summer. Yeah, I think, you know, Vuori came in with an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.
I think I have always been someone who has wanted to sort of do a bit of something different anyway. So working with a brand like Vuori, you know, their creative mindset, their values as a company, that really aligns with what I wanted to do. I think the kits as well and everything that we’re going to create together I think is going to be really cool.
So, yeah, obviously, you know, very, very grateful for Nike for everything they have done over the years, but at the same time I’m looking forward to the journey with Vuori.
Q. On that, being with Nike you were one of kind of many top players, Alcaraz, Sinner. What’s it like being ‘the guy’ in your brand now?
JACK DRAPER: Yeah, it’s really cool. I mean, obviously, you know, very, very privileged to be wearing the clothes. Obviously got Giron and a couple of other players.
But to feel I’m not playing someone with the same kit is a bit of a different feeling sometimes. You know, I’m still a bit blown away with the fact that they want me as kind of the face of their… I’m not someone who is always like I belong in that position. I’m very sort of blown away and grateful for the fact that they want me as a kind of like the face of the brand at the moment.
It’s an amazing feeling. To be honest, everyone at Vuori, all the people are amazing. Looking forward to that.
Carlos Alcaraz
HE MODERATOR: Carlos, just say a few words about your first-round opponent, Opelka. You have never played him in an official match. What do you expect from that first round?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it’s going to be really difficult playing Opelka for the first time. We all know his game style. So, I mean, I have to be ready for that, have to be focused on the return, trying to put as much return as I can. And let’s see. Trying to get good rhythm in the match, playing good the points from the baselines when he let me do it, and let’s see.
The confidence is high right now. Feeling good the court. Feeling good the balls. Just getting ready.
Q. Interested on your thoughts on the mixed doubles, playing with Emma, how you felt you worked as a partnership, and what you made of Emma’s doubles game?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it was great. I wish that I had more time just to be ready, you know, for that match. I couldn’t sleep that match, I couldn’t prepare the mixed tournament as good as I wanted.
But it was fun, to be honest. The people, the energy that was there was great. Almost full, Arthur Ashe. I loved the atmosphere, I loved the support, and I love the format, to be honest.
I just had fun. It was great. Not the result that we wanted. I think we could have been much better if we could have prepared much better. But it was great.
Q. How are you feeling coming to the US Open this year as compared to last year? Everything was so busy last year with the Olympics versus this year coming in. How you’re feeling coming into the Open?
CARLOS ALCARAZ: Well, it’s much different. I have more time just to have my days completely off, just to recharge my mind, my batteries. Then I had two weeks at home practicing, but it was at home.
So for me, it is an extra (indiscernible) that I got having those days at home, and then going to Cincinnati with more happiness, let’s say, and really wanting it, hungry to play the tournaments.
As you could see, I was more prepared than last year. Now I’m just feeling much better. So I’m glad that I had those days. Last year it was more or everything was more tight with no days between tournaments.
Victoria Mboko
THE MODERATOR: Vicky, congrats on Montreal. Give us your thoughts on coming into US Open, especially with that title under your belt.
VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, I was really happy to get my first-offer WTA title in Montreal, at home, especially. But coming into this, of course I really had a lot of confidence. I felt really happy with myself.
But it’s also in the past, and I’m looking forward to playing here. Really excited to have my first US Open main-draw experience.
Q. What memories, if any, do you have of Andreescu and Raducanu and their runs here when they came out of nowhere to win the titles? What inspiration might they be to you?
VICTORIA MBOKO: Well, I mean, I feel like they kind of proved that you can do anything you put your mind to. You know, I think they were both kind of the underdogs coming into the Grand Slam, so it just proves that the trophy is there for everyone and that you can do anything.
I mean, especially watching Bianca, in Canada it was huge. So, no, I was really happy for her. Yeah, I just feel really happy to be here.
Q. How would you describe your feelings about yourself and your game today versus, say, a month or two ago?
VICTORIA MBOKO: I feel like not much has really changed. I feel like I’m playing kind of the same way. I think tennis is also very mental, so however you’re kind of feeling with yourself and how confident you feel with your game, you’re able to produce good tennis, as well.
Yeah, I think for me just staying as positive as I can is the most important, and yeah.
Q. Can you just describe what these last few days have been like, going from Montreal? One minute you’re fighting for your first and second rounds and now after winning a 1000, you’re on talk shows and on TV. Can you describe what that whirlwind is like? Has it all sunk in right now?
VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, everything has happened super quickly. Yeah, I mean, after Montreal I did a lot of talks and a lot of interviews, and, you know, that’s something that I’m not really used to as much as before, at least.
So, yeah, I enjoy doing it. I love talking to new people and having new experiences. I think that’s just a part of the game and the journey.
Looking back at it, it was really cool to experience what I got to do, and then again, it’s in the past. So I’m able to look back at it and kind of smile a bit, but, you know, there are so many more things to come in the future that I really look forward to. So I’m happy.
Q. Just wondering, how does it feel to be sitting in this room right now? I mean, now you’re at the US Open and practicing on Louis Armstrong. How does everything feel here right now?
VICTORIA MBOKO: Well, I mean, it feels really cool. I remember being here as a junior in 2022, and I remember that juniors only had access to the training center, indoor training center. So to be able to kind of see the grounds a little bit, getting to practice on Louis Armstrong, seeing, like, the player lounge and the locker rooms, it’s a really cool experience, especially this is one of my favorite Grand Slams. So I think just everything seems really cool to me.
No, I mean, I’m really happy to be here, and I’m just really excited to play these weeks.
Q. You had a lot of three-set wins in Montreal. I wonder if those three-set wins filled you with more joy than a simple straight-sets win or does it not matter? Winning is winning?
VICTORIA MBOKO: Yeah, I feel like winning is winning. I mean, of course playing three-set matches is a little bit different, because you spend a lot more time on the court and you feel a little bit more tired at the end, so I’d say in a way that could feel more rewarding.
But to go in the match and come out with the win in general for me is just really great. Yeah, I mean, whether I won in two or three sets doesn’t matter to me as long as you kind of get the job done.
Yeah, I mean, either/or. It’s okay for me.
Q. I wonder the things you notice most about, you kept playing higher and higher-level tournaments and in Montreal you played against Grand Slam champions. Are there things they do differently to lower-ranked players? What are the things that struck you?
VICTORIA MBOKO: When I started playing on the WTA Tour a little bit more, I just noticed the girls could hit a very much harder ball with a lot of consistency, so that’s something I had to adapt to really fast, and trying to adjust my game and adapt to that kind of speed and power.
There’s so much athleticism, so much great ball striking. I used to think I hit the ball pretty hard, but when I started to play here, there were so many girls that hit so much harder than me.
So having to get used to that, I had to change that really fast and try to keep up with them. I’d say that’s the biggest difference, but, I mean, I’m also learning along the way.
