Dancevic's lucky cookies, Safin's outlook on life revealed
STEPHANIE MYLES, The Gazette
Published: 3 hours ago
Much was said by the players during last week's highly successful Rogers Cup. Not all of it made our space. Here, for your reading pleasure, is the Rogers Cup: the week in quotes.
"I could never really breathe. Maybe that was a bit my problem today."
- Roger Federer, discussing a human being's need for oxygen after losing in the final to Novak Djokovic.
Frank Dancevic of Niagara Falls, Ont., says his grandmother's cookies were an ingredient for his success at the Rogers Cup last week.
PHIL CARPENTER, THE GAZETTE
I was pretty excited about those three shots. I was wondering myself how the heck I made those."
- Canadian Frank Dancevic, on the way he broke Rafael Nadal's serve to take the first set against the world No. 2 Thursday night.
"Well, he's having some shots that not exist."
- Nadal, who provided somewhat of an explanation.
"She gave me a big hug and a kiss and said: 'Good luck, honey.' And she made me good cookies, homemade cookies. ... They're called kolache. They're homemade. Secret. Don't worry, you're not getting the recipe."
- Dancevic, on how his grandmother sent him off to the Rogers Cup.
"Well, what other choice do you have? Can't go drink coffee with the guy and say: 'Let's discuss this line call.' "
- Federer, on why he doesn't even bother debating the HawkEye system.
"Well, the execution wasn't there, but I thought I had good intention."
- Sherbrooke's Fred Niemeyer, who proved the road to defeat is paved with good intention when he lost to Mario Ancic in the first round.
"The first time we played, okay, I was coming back from a sun stroke, but still I was very impressed with the way he played."
- Federer, on how Nadal really beat him for the first time on a hardcourt, in Miami.
"Is not like he was killing me on the court, I just missed everything."
- Marat Safin, on why he lost that second set 6-0 to Nadal.
"Maybe. Maybe, I think. I think, yes. We'll discuss it."
- Nadal, on playing doubles with Lleyton Hewitt again in Cincinnati. He's still playing, as planned, with Richard Gasquet.
"Yeah, it was surprising because I thought he would fight. I don't know. I don't know what went through his head."
- Marcos Baghdatis, on why Carlos Moya just caved in during their match.
"Like usual, once you get on the match court, you always play better than (on) the practice courts."
- Federer, who is one of the few lucky ducks on the planet who can actually say that with a straight face.
"I will say just one sentence: He's a living legend."
- Radek Stepanek, on Federer.
"You have a guy like Nadal, who is very emotional, pumps his fists. Then you have a guy like Federer, who I don't think breathes on the court when he plays. There's two complete
opposites there."
- Canadian Philip Bester, on the two best in the world.
"It's not like they're two chumps. They're two unbelievable players.
- Murray, on how hard it would be to dislodge Federer or Nadal and reach No. 1 or No. 2 in the world.
"Why I have to be frustrated? In the worst scenario, which would be the normal scenario of my life, I would be a coach in some club in Russia, in Moscow, that nobody would even think about me. I would have probably a few kids and wife, drive every morning at 9 in the morning to give lessons. And look at me now. Not bad for 10 years of career. ... So you know, I was lucky to catch the train. I was lucky to take the opportunity the people they gave me. I have a good life. I'm flying business, first class. I have my friends coming to watch me. When I go to Moscow, I'm staying at a nice place, nice area, good neighborhood, nice cars. ... I prefer to play tennis and be alone than to be working in a tennis club from 9 to 9 and having two kids to feed and a wife that is never happy. Sounds familiar or not?"
Safin, who realizes how lucky he still is, even if he's out of the top 10.
"There's not that many English speaking guys on the tour now, so I have to look elsewhere.
- Nadal, on playing doubles with Australian Hewitt, even though he can barely understand a word he says.
"My brother's the only Yankees fan in the family. We think he's adopted."
- James Blake, a committed Mets fan, on the brutal baseball taste of look-alike brother Thomas.
STEPHANIE MYLES, The Gazette
Published: 3 hours ago
Much was said by the players during last week's highly successful Rogers Cup. Not all of it made our space. Here, for your reading pleasure, is the Rogers Cup: the week in quotes.
"I could never really breathe. Maybe that was a bit my problem today."
- Roger Federer, discussing a human being's need for oxygen after losing in the final to Novak Djokovic.
Frank Dancevic of Niagara Falls, Ont., says his grandmother's cookies were an ingredient for his success at the Rogers Cup last week.
PHIL CARPENTER, THE GAZETTE
I was pretty excited about those three shots. I was wondering myself how the heck I made those."
- Canadian Frank Dancevic, on the way he broke Rafael Nadal's serve to take the first set against the world No. 2 Thursday night.
"Well, he's having some shots that not exist."
- Nadal, who provided somewhat of an explanation.
"She gave me a big hug and a kiss and said: 'Good luck, honey.' And she made me good cookies, homemade cookies. ... They're called kolache. They're homemade. Secret. Don't worry, you're not getting the recipe."
- Dancevic, on how his grandmother sent him off to the Rogers Cup.
"Well, what other choice do you have? Can't go drink coffee with the guy and say: 'Let's discuss this line call.' "
- Federer, on why he doesn't even bother debating the HawkEye system.
"Well, the execution wasn't there, but I thought I had good intention."
- Sherbrooke's Fred Niemeyer, who proved the road to defeat is paved with good intention when he lost to Mario Ancic in the first round.
"The first time we played, okay, I was coming back from a sun stroke, but still I was very impressed with the way he played."
- Federer, on how Nadal really beat him for the first time on a hardcourt, in Miami.
"Is not like he was killing me on the court, I just missed everything."
- Marat Safin, on why he lost that second set 6-0 to Nadal.
"Maybe. Maybe, I think. I think, yes. We'll discuss it."
- Nadal, on playing doubles with Lleyton Hewitt again in Cincinnati. He's still playing, as planned, with Richard Gasquet.
"Yeah, it was surprising because I thought he would fight. I don't know. I don't know what went through his head."
- Marcos Baghdatis, on why Carlos Moya just caved in during their match.
"Like usual, once you get on the match court, you always play better than (on) the practice courts."
- Federer, who is one of the few lucky ducks on the planet who can actually say that with a straight face.
"I will say just one sentence: He's a living legend."
- Radek Stepanek, on Federer.
"You have a guy like Nadal, who is very emotional, pumps his fists. Then you have a guy like Federer, who I don't think breathes on the court when he plays. There's two complete
opposites there."
- Canadian Philip Bester, on the two best in the world.
"It's not like they're two chumps. They're two unbelievable players.
- Murray, on how hard it would be to dislodge Federer or Nadal and reach No. 1 or No. 2 in the world.
"Why I have to be frustrated? In the worst scenario, which would be the normal scenario of my life, I would be a coach in some club in Russia, in Moscow, that nobody would even think about me. I would have probably a few kids and wife, drive every morning at 9 in the morning to give lessons. And look at me now. Not bad for 10 years of career. ... So you know, I was lucky to catch the train. I was lucky to take the opportunity the people they gave me. I have a good life. I'm flying business, first class. I have my friends coming to watch me. When I go to Moscow, I'm staying at a nice place, nice area, good neighborhood, nice cars. ... I prefer to play tennis and be alone than to be working in a tennis club from 9 to 9 and having two kids to feed and a wife that is never happy. Sounds familiar or not?"
Safin, who realizes how lucky he still is, even if he's out of the top 10.
"There's not that many English speaking guys on the tour now, so I have to look elsewhere.
- Nadal, on playing doubles with Australian Hewitt, even though he can barely understand a word he says.
"My brother's the only Yankees fan in the family. We think he's adopted."
- James Blake, a committed Mets fan, on the brutal baseball taste of look-alike brother Thomas.
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