Simona Halep Quotes

I was very disappointed (at the U.S. Open), and I went out there and I worked really hard.

Each match I play is the most important one yet.

I love soccer, love tennis... Roger Federer has been a favourite for a long, long time. The kind of consistency he has shown, 16 Grand Slam titles... The way he handles himself in pressure situations is admirable... He is so calm... In soccer, I'm a huge fan of Barcelona... I like watching Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and David Villa.

I am almost 30 so I am approaching this one as if it will be my last Olympic Games. I want to put out 110 percent to make sure that I am up at the top.

I always say I wish I was in my prime matching up against LeBron. Let's see how many championships he would have won then.

A major final to a tennis player is sacred ground. Short of any type of serious injury - soft-tissue tears, serious orthopedic injuries or a major illness like throwing up, dehydration or cramping - you keep going, especially in the final of a Slam.

For me, every tournament is important, and I feel that if I don't go into them with 100 per cent focus, I will not be ready for the Grand Slams.

You turn up to an Ashes series and put everything you can into it.

If Leander Paes can be playing in Grand Slams at 44 and Narain Karthikeyan race at 40 and be so successful at it, I see no reason why I can't play at 34. They are my motivation, as they have set targets and standards for people like us to achieve.

I grew up playing sports, so I think of what it would be like to be in the NBA if you were a great player when Michael Jordan was playing. You could've been a phenomenal player, but you're in the Jordan era. That's the unfortunate thing about the competitive nature of entertainment. But we know what we signed up for.

It's hard to win Grand Slams.

I just think I play better in the greater scenarios. I just get motivated. I like the big crowds on the centre courts.

That was...that was choking. You're right. But of course when you play against (Roger) Federer, he's No. 1 in the world, he won three grand slams last year, and he's just full of confidence. It's difficult to do anything regular to beat him. You have to do something extra to be able to have the chance to beat him. Set points, I had six of them and I couldn't take one. But I was close.

I've played with Mardy Fish a lot. Played with him, I think, two years ago in one of the weekend rounds.

Basketball was always a game to me. One of the greatest things in life for me was to be able to play what I loved dearly and get paid for it. So it was always a game to me and that's how I perceived everything.

The NBA is tough. Everybody plays hard and every game is vital.

I see the US Open as glamorous. That's the word that comes to mind.

I am there to play tennis and represent the U.S., but I'm also aware that not everyone's going to be able to think that way.

It's always been a dream of mine, and a childhood fantasy, to play a great champion. I would much rather haven been an athlete than an actor. This is like some second place consolation prize.

A fight with Mike Tyson or Riddick Bowe always sells, because those people came to win. When you come to win, people will see a good show. When you come to survive, it can become boring.

Grand Slams are funny things. You have to try to find a way to get through the first week and put yourself in a position in the second week. A lot of strange things happen.

I'm with Houston now. I just have to come in here and play hard and win games.

On today's athletes: I wish I could turn back the clock a little bit so I'd have a chance to cut it up with those guys.

I know that sacrifices have to be made to play with good teams.

Whoever want my spot can play me one-on-one for it.