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Tennis
Andy Murray: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
"Try being a British player going into a Grand Slam. It’s not easy."
Andy Murray shrugs aside the ‘nerves’ question in the press conference following his gritty win over India’s Somdev Devvarman in the first round at the US Open.
Murray clarified his statement:
“It was a little bit of a joke, a little bit of truth in it. I think for anyone that sort of wants to go on and win a slam or, you know, feels like they’re in with a shot, you know, I think it’s natural to start. You know, you put a lot of effort and preparation into getting ready for these events and, you know, you don’t want to get off to a bad start or whatever. I think nerves are a good thing. I think it shows you care and that, like I say, I put a lot into getting ready for it. I hope my game’s going to be there and the hard work pays off.”
What he really meant:
“The weight of expectations from the press (you guys) is heavy on my shoulders. I’m stooped before my time.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Let’s grab Tim Henman and get him to elaborate further.”
Donald Young: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
"I think everyone’s light turns on at their own time. I’m starting to feel like mine is turning on."
Donald Young, once labelled the ‘next big thing’ of American tennis, feels that he’s a late bloomer, much like Mardy Fish. Young is 22 and was the youngest ever junior Grand Slam winner at 15—before Bernard Tomic—winning the Australian Open in 2005. Young beat Lukas Lacko in straight sets to make it to the second round of the US Open.
What he really meant:
“I need more electricity. Can I find it here at the US Open?”
What he definitely didn’t:
Caroline Wozniacki: What she said, really meant and definitely did not
What she said:
"I’m definitely trying to keep up. He has something I’m looking for and I have something he’s looking for. He wants to be number one, so it’s good to have something on each other."
Caroline Wozniacki has the No.1 ranking but no Slam. Rory McIlroy has the US Open title but not the No. 1 ranking. Quite the complementary couple.
What she really meant:
“The score’s one-all in this game of love.”
What she definitely didn’t:
Novak Djokovic:What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
"I’m aware of the responsibility that I have as a present number one to represent the sport in some ways off the court. So I need to do that in a best possible way. You know, I’m trying. You tell me, how am I doing?"
Novak Djokovic cares about being No.1.
What he really meant:
“It’s quite difficult, you know. Earlier, I could take the mickey out of Roger (Federer) or Rafael (Nadal) when they were ranked higher. But I can’t mimic myself, can I?”
What he definitely didn’t:
“That explains the Maria Sharapova Head commercials.”
Novak Djokovic: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
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What he said:
“Well, it would be great if that machine had wings so it can fly wherever I am playing.”
Novak Djokovic denies that the CVAC Pod or “pressurised egg” is the reason behind his stupendous run of form this year. The technology, Cyclic Variations In Adaptive Conditioning (CVAC) simulates “rapid changes in altitude, which allegedly stimulates the body on a cellular level, therefore increasing oxygen absorption and promoting muscle recovery—in essence boosting the lymphatic system.”
In his initial talk with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the men’s No. 1 player praised the device:
"I think it really helps — not with muscle but more with recovery after an exhausting set.It’s like a spaceship. It’s very interesting technology."
Djokovic has since refuted using the technology to enhance his results this year.
The Djoker said:
"I’m going to repeat it for the last time: It doesn’t have any influence on my success."
What he really meant:
“Get real. I can’t take that machine with me everywhere, can I?”
What he definitely didn’t:
“The Flying Serb and his Flying Machine—wouldn’t that make a great headline?”
Li Na: What she said, really meant and definitely did not
What she said:
"Because after they beat you, they think, ‘Oh, I beat a Grand Slam champion.’"
Chinese tennis star, Li Na, reacts after her opener loss to Romanian teenager, Simona Halep. The French Open champion has struggled in the latter part of the season. Na lost 2-6, 5-7 in straight sets, her second successive exit in the first round at the tournament.
Na said:
"Before the match, I talked to my coach. I said I didn’t have good timing to hit the ball. He told me everything is perfect, everything is fantastic.”
"I say, ‘Yes, everything is fantastic, but I always lose first round.’
"This is not fantastic. I think we need to change something. I think maybe the coach just tried to give me confidence, but I don’t think I got it."
What she really meant:
“I’m a treasured scalp—a trophy in itself.”
What she definitely didn’t:
“If they lose to you, they think, ‘Oh, it’s OK, I lost to a Grand Slam champion.’”
Rafael Nadal: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“I doubt their intentions.”
Rafael Nadal has a healthy mistrust of dogs.
What he really meant:
“I look at dogs and wonder, ‘What are they thinking? To bite or not to bite? To bark or not to bark? To chase or not to chase?”
What he definitely didn’t:
“A dog is man’s best friend.”
Ryan Harrison: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
“I didn’t break any racquets; I didn’t say swearwords on court. It could have gotten better and I could have been better. I didn’t really go nuts.”
Ryan Harrison has an entirely different view of his on-court behaviour in his first round straight-sets loss to Croatia’s Marin Cilic on the first day of the US Open.
What he really meant:
“I was quite decorous in my on-court behaviour, wasn’t I? Look, no broken rackets, no abuse. Commendable, eh?”
What he definitely didn’t:
“I’m that transparent, am I? What, my skidding my racquet gave me away?”
Andrea Petkovic: What she said, really meant and definitely did not
What she said:
“I would be Jessica Alba and seduce all men.”
Andrea Petkovic believes that Jessica Alba is superhuman. The German tennis star answered as above when asked what super hero ability she would want.
What she really meant:
“Don’t tell anyone but I don’t buy into that WTA poster campaign ‘Strong Is Beautiful’.”
What she definitely didn’t:
“Tennis stars aren’t heroic?”
“Jessica Alba isn’t really Susan Storm, the Invisible Woman?”
Lee Westwood: What he said, really meant and definitely did not
What he said:
"Glad Sharapova’s not playing in Crans this week! They’d hear her in Geneva! Come on Watson finish her off for the sake of our eardrums!"
Golfer Lee Westwood tweets his support for Britisher, Heather Watson, during her first round encounter with Maria Sharapova at the US Open on Monday, the 29th of August, 2011.
What he really meant:
“Hell! I’m glad Maria’s not a golfer. Picture the havoc she’d wreak on our games with her shrieking and grunting after each stroke.”
What he definitely didn’t:
“Bring on the vuvuzuelas as well!”
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