Say what?! Best French Open day 11 quotes

With six quarterfinals played on day 11 of Roland Garros, the press room proved just as entertaining as the on-court action. These are the best quotes of the day…

“First of all, it’s great for me to be in the semifinals again, to defend that. And of course, I think on Friday is coming the toughest opponent ever here in Roland Garros. Gonna be the fourth match against him in, like, five or six weeks. Not really big secrets. Well, he’s again in his best shape. So gonna be the toughest match what you can imagine.”
Dominic Thiem on his impending semifinal against Rafael Nadal

“It’s a joke how tough it is to win a slam. Because obviously now I beat Novak. On Friday is Nadal. In the finals there is another top star. That’s why it’s a slam is because it’s such a tough achievement.”
Dominic Thiem knows winning a Grand Slam won’t be easy

“Yeah, it’s hard to comment the third set. Obviously nothing was going my way and everything his way. Just pretty bad set. All in all, it was decided I think in the first set.”
Novak Djokovic on his quarterfinal loss

“For me, it’s a whole new situation that I’m facing, you know, especially in the last seven, eight months, you know, not winning any tournament, which hasn’t happened in many years. So, you know, it’s not something that hasn’t happened before for any player. You know, all the top players have been through that. So I guess you’ve got to go through it, try to, you know, learn your lessons and figure out the way, how to get out of it stronger. You know, it’s a big challenge, but I’m up for it.”
Novak Djokovic on where his career is at

“Don’t put Andre, you know, in the midst of this. This final set, of course, that’s all me. As I have mentioned before several times when you guys ask me about his influence and impact on my game, it’s gonna take time.”
Novak Djokovic is not putting any blame on new coach Andre Agassi

“There are different players that are in a position to fight for it. I’m not the only one. The world is not spinning only around me. I’m grateful for the attention, but, you know, there are many other players that deserve that, as well. Well, as I said, the next chapter for me. So now I’m just figuring it all out, and obviously there are things to think about and to work on, and we’ll see where it takes me.”
Novak Djokovic on new Grand Slam challengers

“I just sat down at 5- 2. I said that the match is lost. So I did nothing to change something, to change the rhythm, that’s it. It’s over. And then I started to feel more relaxed maybe because I thought it’s finished, and I change the rhythm. I put some high balls. I just tried to make her move more, to open the court, and it came. I don’t know how, but it was really good.”
Simona Halep explains her comeback win

“I don’t really need to talk about this match as, like, a bad experience or something. I think it’s good. Okay, I am sad today, but tomorrow is gonna be another day, you know, and life continues. It’s nothing I can do.”
Elina Svitolina reflects on losing her quarterfinal after leading 6-3 5-1

“You want me to cry, no?”
Elina Svitolina to a journalist who asked if she was frustrated

“I don’t know how many games I lost this year, but I really don’t care about this, no? I only care that I am in the semifinals.”
Rafael Nadal on whether he wants to break the record for least games lost in winning the title

“It was my best Roland Garros. I need to be happy, because my level in these weeks was really good. I believe in myself more than when I start the tournament, so that’s good news for me.”
Pablo Carreno Busta finds positives after injury forced him to retire in his quarterfinal

“They just maybe like me (smiling). I don’t know. Yeah, I expected it to be worse, and it was okay.”
Karolina Pliskova on the well-behaved French crowd when playing a French player

“Before this tournament I was struggling on clay with almost everything. Didn’t have my weapons on my side and the movement was terrible. Which I don’t think it’s better, but somehow I’m just winning.”
Karolina Pliskova is honest about her clay form

“It looks like I’m relaxed. I saw myself in TV. But sometimes in myself it’s not like this, you know. But I’m just trying to don’t show any emotion especially on those big points”
Introverted Karolina Pliskova explains her on-court demeanour

“I was, like, there is no chance I make final here (smile). And now it’s close, but it’s close and it’s far, as well, because I’m playing against somebody who I would say one of the best girls on clay. It’s not like you’re going to get it for free, you know.”
Karolina Pliskova on being told early in the tournament she had to make the final to reach world No.1

“Today was a perfect match for me, I thought very well from the beginning. I was playing the right play. It’s great. I’m really happy to be in the semifinal here.”
Things are good in Stan Wawrinka’s world right now

“You know, today, to win a match, I didn’t feel like I played great tennis today. You know, it’s a huge step in the right direction for me. Anyone can win matches when they are playing well. It’s winning when you’re not playing your best is more impressive. So I’m happy about that.”
Andy Murray is impressing himself

“Obviously if someone had offered me a semifinal spot before the tournament, I would have signed up for that because I was not playing well at all. And practice also was not good. It’s been really good so far. I want to keep going.”
World No.1 Andy Murray is happy to still be in the tournament

“I came in playing garbage (smiling). You know, I’m the odd one out in the semis, but hopefully, you know, hopefully I can keep it up.”
Andy Murray on his form