The U.S. Open in Quotes
The absences
Some observers felt the women?s draw lacked interest without the Williams sisters, and the sisters themselves heartily agreed.
?Without us, it is a little dry. I would be dishonest if I said it wasn't.?
-- Serena Williams
The generations
A legend said his goodbyes to the sport with tears but no regrets.
"I didn't change much and I didn't sell out."
-- Pete Sampras
But his great rival insisted he was not ready to follow suit quite yet at 33 years of age.
?Something would have to change drastically for me not to be back.?
-- Andre Agassi
And an American upstart was poised for the passing of the torch.
?This time, I definitely want to take this title. I know that's big talk, but I feel I've played pretty well this summer.?
-- Andy Roddick
A torch-passing that was not everyone?s cup of tea...
"He thinks he's the best, the greatest, the most
beautiful. But that's not the case."
-- Ivan Ljubicic, after his second round loss to Roddick
The distractions
As always at the world?s loudest and brashest tournament, the players had to battle constant distractions as well as their opponents.
"It's sort of like the hype is all around you. It's
really crazy."
-- Maria Sharapova
?To put a band 20 metres from the court where two guys are playing their guts out, that?s a total lack of respect. You only see that in the United States!?
-- Arnaud Clément
"I just asked if the blimp was going to fly around the
whole time. I guess when you're playing worse,
everything sort of becomes louder than when you're
playing well."
-- Jennifer Capriati
Adventures of a Wimbledon champion
Roger Federer looked like a contender in the early rounds, particularly in a fine third round win over James Blake.
"The second set of Blake and Federer was one of the
best sets I've ever seen. It was like two boxers
hitting each other without getting tired."
-- Jonas Bjorkman
"He (Federer) makes you play a little worse than you
think you are, and a little worse than you should."
-- James Blake
That is, until he ran into his nemesis, David Nalbandian, whom he has never beaten in five tries.
"I don't know what to comment on this. I am trying to figure out how to beat him. He likes my game, that's all I can say about it."
-- Roger Federer
The deluge
The start of the second week featured rain, rain and more rain.
"I just want a sweet right now, something sweet,
because the weather is not sweet. So you should give
something sweet to yourself."
-- Anastasia Myskina
It was hard to know whether to laugh or cry at the strange sight of an army of volunteers manually drying the courts with towels.
"I have come to the technological giant United States,
the country that went to the moon, and I find they
have discovered towel power. Is this theory from MIT?"
-- Italian journalist Gianni Clerici, quoted by Bud
Collins
"We've been talking about covers since the Eighties.
[Monday] they spent more time drying the courts than
it rained. When are they going to learn? We have no
say on it. [Monday], it was two hours of play, six
hours of drying. Fifteen minutes is enough after a
drizzle."
-- Martina Navratilova
The ?patriotic? scheduling
Scheduling changes caused by the rain blatantly favoured American stars Agassi and Roddick, giving them days off between matches that their opponents did not receive. A conspiracy?
"Already the Americans benefit from a night session
compared to the others. Generally when it's hot, they
play at night and not during the day. And on top of
that, when it rains, they play and the others
don't, that makes for a lot of favouritism in the end."
-- Fabrice Santoro
"It?s fustrating, but it?s the same for everybody, at least for the non-Americans."
-- Carlos Moya
"These people aren?t intelligent enough for a conspiracy."
-- Dirk Hordorff, coach of Rainer Schuettler
''It would be a luxury problem if I have to play four
days because that would mean I'm in the final, which
would make me the most happy man in New York."
-- Sjeng Schalken
But the ?foreigners? did not always get a sympathetic ear?
"That's too bad for them."
-- Andy Roddick
"The minute you become Pat Rafter, you'll make the
Ashe court, also."
-- Alan Schwartz, the U.S.T.A. president
Henin triumphant
Justine Henin and Jennifer Capriati put on the match of the fortnight, featuring a Henin comeback as courageous as her opponent?s collapse was devastating.
?When I came off the court, I felt like the whole world was coming down on me. My heart was being ripped out.?
-- Jennifer Capriati
The gritty and talented Belgian showed her toughness by rebounding from the gruelling semifinal to dominate the final against Kim Clijsters, as she did at Roland Garros, and claim her second major title.
"I was very afraid for her tonight. I was not at all confident that she could come back and play the final."
-- Henin?s coach Carlos Rodriguez
"My legs were feeling heavy for sure. But I was saying, 'Let's play, let's do your best.' ?
-- Justine Henin
And sending a message to the notable absentees?
"I don't know if the Williams sisters have to worry. I hope so."
-- Justine Henin
And that Roddick torch-passing?
?He's got an amazing game and talent. I changed nothing. I was just the right guy at the right time.?
-- Roddick?s coach Brad Gilbert
"I don't think you could have written a script any better, with Pete's retirement. It was just too good."
-- Andy Roddick