Jana Novotna Quotes

For me it's a simple sport and a simple way to live these seven or eight years of maximum sport.

Playing football was like being trapped in a rhythm, and my whole career was like that. You have very little time to switch off.

I think four Olympics is probably enough. Five Olympics is a long time, but there's nothing wrong with that if I'm into it and I'm healthy and my priorities can fit around that.

Every sport evolves. Every sport gets bigger and more athletic, and you have to keep up.

What people don't understand is the summertime is motivation - how willing you're willing to work for the upcoming season - and I think, as older players, once you see that drive fall off in the summer, then I think it's time to hang it up.

I don't think I was a perfect hurdler, but I guess I did win all the time.

For professional athletes, I always think about it in these terms: the most difficult diva of women's soccer would be the easiest NBA player ever.

The longer you stay out of this sport, the less sharp you are, and I've been aware of that; that's why I've stayed and haven't wanted to retire and come back - because you skip a beat.

I'm not just a footballer; I'm a top athlete, and we have to be at the top of our game.

The footballer's career is very long and staying on the top for many years is always very difficult.

I am a professional footballer and as long as I'm able to make a contribution, I'll be doing all I can to stay at the top.

Coaches will say that it's not important for their team to run more, and they prefer to make games the right way. I want to make games only the right way and run 10 km more.

It's hard to know when to call it a day as a footballer.

There are a lot of men playing great tennis well into their thirties.

A football player at any level must set goals.

When I was younger, I thought I would finish in my mid-30s because that is normal for most players.

There comes a time in any proud sportsman's career when you have to make the difficult decision to stop.

I've played for 15 years and played in five major tournaments. I know what it gives me in terms of the joy, in terms of the love for the game. But I'm done with it.

I think as a professional sportsman you're aware that your time is limited.

I want to improve every part of my game.

There is nothing like playing in the actual games, compared to simulating it, working out, playing some five-on-five. It's not the same.

The bigger, stronger, faster and meaner my players are, the better I coach.

Yes, I could win the Olympics. I hope to, and that's what I'm training for. But it's really going to come down to me racing on that day... Just being really calm and mature about what the reality is - that's my strategy.

I haven't played tennis since 2006, and tennis is one of those sports where if you don't play, you don't get paid.

As a player, you have to assess how fit you are and look at your performance graph - how long you are delivering. Take Imran Khan's case: he played till 39.