Wimbledon: Quotes from Day One

The defending champion Novak Djokovic launched his bid for an eighth Wimbledon title and twenty fourth Grand Slam triumph on Monday together with his fortieth successive win on Centre Courtroom as Russian gamers defiantly marked their return from a controversial 2022 ban. Djokovic began his 2023 Wimbledon journey with a first-round triumph towards spirited Pedro Cachin, then again Venus Williams, the five-time champion, suffered a nasty tumble throughout her 6-4, 6-3 defeat to Elina Svitolina within the Wimbledon first spherical.

Here’s a collection of the perfect quotes from the primary day of the 2023 match on the All England Membership:

  • “The holy grail, the temple of tennis.”

— Novak Djokovic after profitable his fortieth consecutive match on Centre Courtroom.

  • “I used to be actually killing it, then I obtained killed by the grass.”

— Venus Williams, who suffered a nasty fall early in her defeat to Elina Svitolina.

  • “You do know I am not from Russia, proper?”

— Victoria Azarenka, who’s most undoubtedly from Belarus, when requested by a reporter to elucidate what “Wimbledon means to folks in Russia”.

  • “I feel it is a very considerate addition, as a result of there are apparent conditions that may be difficult and uncomfortable.”

— Azarenka on the choice to permit feminine gamers to put on dark-coloured underwear to alleviate interval anxiousness.

  • “We’re already enjoying in Dubai, enjoying in Doha, so I do not see the actual difficulty to go there actually.”

— Casper Ruud has no difficulty with the ATP presumably staging tournaments in Saudi Arabia.

  • “There was higher choices. Not simply to ban. As a result of in the long run, it was no distinction. They did solely worse to themselves.”

— Russia’s Andrey Rublev reflecting on Wimbledon’s determination final yr to ban all Russian and Belarusian gamers in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

  • “I say ‘hello’ to them. Some folks, they reply, some not. Like others, I simply say we’re right here as tennis gamers.”

— Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova on tensions with Ukraine gamers within the locker room.

  • “I bear in mind strolling right into a bar final yr. I went to indicate the man my ID in Manchester. He stated, You look about 35, you need not present me your ID.”

— Britain’s Liam Broady, who’s 29.

  • “I am enjoying the No. 4 on the earth, second spherical of Wimbledon. I will play him again up in Stockport if I’ve to. I do not thoughts.”

— Broady on the potential of going through fourth-ranked Casper Ruud on Centre Courtroom or Courtroom One.

  • “I really feel like I am simply grateful, however I want to review. Sorry.”

— Iga Swiatek when requested to touch upon the battle for equal prize cash at Wimbledon, which was received in 2007 when she was solely six years outdated.

  • “I am like, ‘Chill out, she’s 12, she’s good, she’ll be high quality’.”

— Jessica Pegula on seeing pushy mother and father trying to persuade their daughters into grow to be higher gamers.

(With inputes from AFP)

 

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Up to date: 04 Jul 2023, 02:36 AM IST