Say what?! Best quotes from Roland Garros Day 12

The quarterfinals were complete on day 12 of Roland Garros, here is what the players had to say…

“Believe it or not, I never thought of prize money being one of the sources of my motivation and inspiration to play tennis. It’s no different today. Of course the money helps me have certain standard of life and lifestyle, you know. But that’s how I solely look at the money, as a way to live a certain standard of life. But that’s all. It never was and is never going to be the drive force in my life and in my career.”
Novak Djokovic on becoming the first player to win $100 million in prize money

“He plays with a lot of speed, with a lot of power. I’m sure he’s going to give it all in semis. But I have something to fight for, as well. It’s going to be a good one.”
Novak Djokovic on his semifinal match against Dominic Thiem

“I don’t know. I still have no idea for myself, but I’m just so happy. I think I can’t believe it still.”
Kiki Bertens on how she feels reaching the semifinals

“I think it was the best joke ever. (Smiling)”
Kiki Bertens on what she would say if someone had of told her she would win 12 consecutive matches and reach the French Open semifinals

“It was a good run. Unfortunately with all the things that are happening here, I was again to face Novak in the quarters. That’s how it is. So, I mean, I can only leave with the head up and just going forward.”
Tomas Berdych is looking at positives after his quarterfinal loss

“Last year I was mentioning two matches that I was really – I was like – I had my eyes shut and everything was going in. But all year long, like this year, it didn’t happen yet for me to have such a match.”
Timea Bacsinszky is struggling to recapture her 2015 form

“Being an elite player means that people are, like, awaiting results of you, and especially I made semifinals here last year. To come back and to be able to cope with that and to go so far, it’s already something huge for me.”
Timea Bacsinszky reflects on her tournament

“It’s difficult to say. I haven’t got a crystal ball with me. But, yes, the match would have been different. Two sets for me and I was playing better than he was, so maybe the match would have been totally different. But he decided to fight back.”
David Goffin on what would have happened if he won a second set tiebreak

“It’s gonna be unbelievably tough. I think he’s a little bit on a different level than all the other players, but still I’m in good shape and the match starts at 0-0. Everything I can do is give all I have, give my best, and then we will see what happens.”
Dominic Thiem looks ahead to his semifinal against Novak Djokovic

“There were moments where I had doubts about my one-handed backhand, but still, at the end it was the right choice.”
Dominic Thiem on whether he had considered using a two-handed backhand

“I just was not playing my best. I kept missing, you know, just misfiring. Honestly, at one point I didn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Serena Williams on her quarterfinal match

“I always was thinking that I can win the match. Even when I was 5-0 down in the third I was thinking that I can come back. (Laughter.)”
Yulia Putintseva was staying positive in her quarterfinal against Serena Williams