The 2010s at the US Open saw five different men's and eight different women's singles champions, led by Rafael Nadal's four titles and Serena Williams' three in a row from 2012-14. As the decade comes to a close, USOpen.org takes a look back at some of the best moments over the last 10 years at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. In this installment: best quotes.
“I think this talk about if I am better or worse than Roger is stupid, because the titles say he's much better than me, so that's the true at that moment. I think will be the true all my life. But, sure, for me, always Roger was an example, especially because he improved his tennis I think during all his career, and that's a good thing that you can copy, no?” – Rafael Nadal, upon winning his first US Open singles title, 2010
“I mean, if we could have looked in a crystal ball and seen all that's gone on in our career, probably would have had a heart attack and fallen over. It’s been an incredible ride, [and] I think one of our proudest moments is helping in the fight to save doubles. When we look back, that might be our biggest legacy, is being able to continue this part of the game and keep its place in the history of tennis.” – Bob Bryan, after he and brother Mike captured their third US Open men’s doubles title, 2010
"Look, it happens sometimes. That's why we all watch sports, isn't it? Because we don't know the outcome and everybody has a chance, and until the very last moment it can still turn. That's what we love about the sport, but it's also very cruel and tough sometimes.” – Roger Federer, after losing his semifinal to Novak Djokovic after being up two sets, 2011
“When you go down the road and when you're on the tour for so long, you experience different situations. You make mistakes in your career, but you learn from those mistakes. You cannot be always on top of your game. You cannot be always in the right mood. You play so many matches, and as a top player, many people watch when you're playing. This is the biggest court we have in our sport, so every time you step out there, it's not only about playing tennis, it's about representing yourself in the best possible way.” – Novak Djokovic, after winning his first US Open singles title, 2011
“I'll give you a simple answer: last night I didn't have any gluten, and tonight I will have a bunch of gluten—and alcohol.” – Men’s champion Novak Djokovic on his new diet, 2011
“Playing all those small tournaments, sleeping in train stations and staying in dodgy hotels and doing the hard yards through many places…. It pays off in the end. I'd do it all over again if I had to.” – Women’s singles champion Samantha Stosur, 2011
“You can lose or win a trophy, but the love from the crowd, it could be even bigger than the tournament." – Juan Martin del Potro
“This was all new for me. I had seen most things that this game had to offer, and this was entirely new. It was emotional, but not emotional like we normally have it. It's normally a very selfish emotion for us. If we do badly, then it costs us something; if we do well, we get great things. This was about something bigger. It wasn't about ranking points or paychecks or anything else, you know. It was fun. This week I felt like I was, you know, 12 years old playing in a park. It was extremely innocent. That was fun. I enjoyed it.” – Andy Roddick, who retired at the US Open, 2012
“I know the thing that is certain is I didn't take any of it for granted. You know, I think I went about things the right way. The umpires might disagree with me.” – Andy Roddick, 2012
“I can't sit here and say I'm the best ever. I'm not. I'm not worthy of that title. I'm just Serena. I love playing tennis, and I'm good at it. Just because I'm good at it doesn't make me the best.” – 2012 women’s champ Serena Williams
“I really love tennis, and I feel like I have so much to give, especially since I have had my health problems. I feel like I can't let anything take me down. I have to beat this. So for me, what it's all about is beating this. And not just for me, but for everyone who has felt ill or sick and wants to return back to what they were. For me, I have a lot to prove to myself.” – Venus Williams, 2012
“I mean, obviously, you're feeling a lot of things. I was obviously very emotional; I cried a little bit on the court. You're not sad; you're incredibly happy. You're in a little bit of disbelief because when you’ve been in that position many times before and not won, you do think, ‘Is it ever going to happen?’ Then when it finally does, you just—yeah, you're obviously very, very excited.” – Men’s champion Andy Murray, 2012
“It's so funny, and whenever anyone asks me about that, I honestly, when the tournament started, I told myself I was going to win, and I felt it. It's weird. I have these weird feelings all the time, and I just felt I was going to win this tournament. I wasn't really surprised. I mean, I was happy and elated, but I just had this instinct.” – 2013 women’s champion Serena Williams recalling her first title in 1999
“I really hope the mark is just that I did things the right way. I don't kid myself. I know I have had a great career in my eyes, but it's not one that's going to go down in the history books. It's not one that's going to end in Newport, but it's one that I'm proud of.” – James Blake on his retirement in 2013
“Is true that winning against big opponents makes the victory more special, but if you ask me what I want when I am in the final, I don't want Novak in front. That's the real thing. I am not like this stupid guy that you want to beat against the best. I don't want to play against the best; I want to play against an easy opponent.” – Men’s champion Rafael Nadal, after beating Novak Djokovic in the final, 2013
"I accept the fact. You know, everybody has a choice to support a player that they want to support, and he absolutely deserves to have the support he does because of all the years and success that he had and the way he carries himself on and off the court. No question about it. Me, I'm there to earn the support, and hopefully in the future I can be in that position.” – Men’s champion Novak Djokovic on the crowd support for his final-round opponent, Roger Federer, 2015
“Tomorrow we will see. It's incredible moment, you know, but one Italian will win for sure.” – Italy's Roberta Vinci before her final against countrywoman (and eventual women’s champion) Flavia Pennetta, 2015
"I think I'm on the right path. I don't think any of us in this room right now were perfect at 20. Speak up if you were.” – Nick Kyrgios, 2015
“Being out there in Arthur Ashe Stadium and playing in front of a big crowd—that's motivating. That's the thing that, when it's gray and cold outside and you have to go practice at 7 a.m., that's what you think of.” – Semifinalist Caroline Wozniacki, 2016
“I just looked up, and it’s almost 2 a.m., so who wants to go party?” – Madison Keys, whose first-round victory over Allison Riske ended at 1:48 a.m., setting a new record for the latest finish for a women’s match in US Open history, 2016
“Life arranges things to happen for you so you can evolve. Whether you recognize those kinds of signals and circumstances as an opportunity to grow, that really depends on you, how conscious you are. I'm really grateful to be able to have that consciousness at the moment. Hopefully, I'm on the right path.” – Finalist Novak Djokovic, 2016
“There's something very special about tennis in the quiet. There's that tension that everybody feels, the sound of the ball, the sound of the footwork is very special in sports. I do enjoy the quiet. Especially the more important the moment, that silence says it all.” – Venus Williams, 2016
“I think when I dive on the court, I don’t dive for people. Come on. To be honest, I’m going to hurt myself for people. I dive because I want to win the point.” – Gael Monfils, 2016
“This sport is about victory. This is not about defeats. At the end of your career, nobody remember your defeats, your losses. People remember the victories.” – Men’s champion Rafael Nadal, 2017
“I think sport is a little microcosm of life, and it shows the human spirit—just being out there on the court, fighting against all odds. If you're down, you keep going. Great champions come back from injuries or circumstances they could never have planned for. It's very encouraging for people to watch. You never know whose life you'll touch just by being your best.” – Venus Williams, 2017
“Of course, girl. Did you see that check that lady handed me? Man, if that doesn't make you want to play tennis, I don't know what will.” – Women’s champion Sloane Stephens, who pocketed $3.7 million, when asked if she plans to win another Slam in the future, 2017
“When you walk out onto Arthur Ashe [Stadium], you feel like people are there to see the show, enjoy themselves. Sure, they come for the tennis, but it's also sort of a bucket list, wanting to be there. So there's pressure. But [it] never gets old.” – Roger Federer, 2018
“There's something very special about tennis in the quiet.... Especially the more important the moment, that silence says it all.” – Venus Williams
“You can lose or win a trophy, but the love from the crowd, it could be even bigger than the tournament. That's what I got from them. It will be in the heart for the rest of the life.” – Men’s finalist Juan Martin del Potro, 2018
“I know that, like, she really wanted to have the 24th Grand Slam, right? Everyone knows this. It's on the commercials, it's everywhere. Like, when I step onto the court, I feel like a different person, right? I'm not a Serena fan. I'm just a tennis player playing another tennis player. But then when I hugged her at the net, I felt like a little kid again.” – Women’s champion Naomi Osaka after beating her idol, Serena Williams, in the final, 2018
“She just proved that she's a true athlete. For me, the definition of an athlete is someone who on the court treats you like your worst enemy, but off the court can be your best friend.” – Coco Gauff, after her third-round loss to defending women’s champion Naomi Osaka, 2019
“When you are called Serena, you are supposed to win all the time.” – Serena Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, 2019
"The amount of people, kids especially, that come up to me saying I inspire them is honestly better than any match I could win, just to know that I inspire another kid maybe to pick up a racquet or go through something they're facing at school.” – Coco Gauff, 2019
“Yeah, I will not say that I'm a kind person or a good person. I can only say I'm a really calm person in life. I actually have no idea why the demons go out when I play tennis. I have been working a lot on it, and I have improved a lot. Sometimes it still happens. But again, talking about normal life, to make me angry, you need to do something crazy for one week in a row. You need to, I don't know, come to my hotel, knock on my door at 6:00 in the morning for seven days in a row. Then I'm going to be maybe mad a little bit. If not, I'm really calm.” – Men’s finalist Daniil Medvedev, on his efforts to control his on-court emotions, 2019
“I eat a lot of pasta. I try not to eat too much pizza. But Hawaiian one, I'm sorry. I know Italians would usually boo me for this, but I like Hawaiian pizza.” – Daniil Medvedev, 2019
“I'm not the only person that's looked up to her. She's an inspiration to many, many people, not only athletes. What she's done off the court, too. She's truly a champion. Above all, she's very kind-hearted. She came up to me in the locker room; she said some really nice things, which I'll cherish for a really, really long time. I've really strived to be like her. Who knows? Maybe I can be even better.” – Women’s champion Bianca Andreescu on Serena Williams, 2019
“I am who I am. I've always been the person that goes out there and roars and screams and complains and cries and fights. I'm extremely passionate about what I do.” – Serena Williams, 2019
“[It’s] going to happen sooner than later that this era is going to end. I am 33. Novak is 32. Roger is 38. Andy is 32. The clock is not stopping. That's part of the cycle of life.” – Men's champion Rafael Nadal, 2019
