The 2021 US Open rolls on, with both the men’s and women’s singles final matchups set: Leylah Fernandez vs. Emma Raducanu, and Novak Djokovic vs. Daniil Medvedev. USOpen.org looks at the best quotes from Day 12 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
“I know what’s on the line. I’m aware of it. Of course, I’m aware of it. But I’m just trying to lock into what I know works for me. I have my routines, I have my people. I isolate myself. I gather all the necessary energy for the next battle, only the next match.” — Novak Djokovic, who is one win away from the calendar-year Grand Slam
“He’s breaking every single record that there is. If you look at the stats, if you look at the pure game of tennis action, he’s the greatest of all time. Nobody is there with him, because he has the most weeks world No. 1, most Masters 1000s titles, most likely going to be the most Grand Slams. And he has the chance of winning all four in the same year. How do you compete with that?” — Alexander Zverev, who fell in five sets, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, to Djokovic
“I’m just going to turn up the heat, if I can say that, and try to do my best.” — Daniil Medvedev on his US Open final matchup with Novak Djokovic
“Against a player like that, you don’t really have room for mistakes.” — Felix Auger-Aliassime, who fell in the semifinals to Medvedev, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2
“I’m extremely superstitious. My daughter is as well. I’ve been using the same shampoo on game day, kind of using the same jeans on game day, I think the same socks and underwear. It’s taken to a completely different level. It’s always been that way. It’s nothing new. You do your shoelaces a certain way, you do this a certain way. Leylah and I, when we figure out what’s working, we don’t mess with it.” — Leylah Fernandez’s father/coach, Jorge, who remained back home in Florida out of superstition
“I think we’re still just a bit in shock of what we’ve just achieved.” — Joe Salisbury, who with partner Rajeev Ram captured the 2021 US Open men’s doubles title, defeating the tandem of Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
“It kind of sucks to win that way. We just hope that Luisa recovers well.” — Caty McNally, who with Coco Gauff moved into the US Open doubles final when Luisa Stefani injured her leg at 6-all in the opening set
“I get called an ‘old-school coach’ a lot. I believe in the grind. I believe in the hard work. I believe in the suffering. If we do that enough, then we get really, really strong.” — Jorge Fernandez
“I’ve always described Leylah as having an extremely mature game. It’s something that you expect out of a 28-year-old, not out of a 16-year-old, 15-year-old. I watched her win the U-16 Nationals when she was 12. She was obviously playing with players that were much bigger, much more experienced, much stronger than she was. I remember just watching her coming to the net, volleying. She would just turn around and give a little fist pump, just walk away like as if it’s something completely normal, like she’s been doing it for many, many years.” — Jorge Fernandez
“I think it’s super exciting for the next generation, showing age is just a number. We’re all capable of playing with the top players out here. We’re all coming out, playing very fiercely, not afraid to get the crowd involved, playing on these big stages.” — Caty McNally, 19, on the teen breakthrough at the 2021 US Open
“It’s always been a goal to win a Grand Slam. That’s always been the green light. When I played in Wimbledon, even though I fell short, I really did believe I could win the tournament. Every tournament, I believe I can win the tournament.” — Coco Gauff
“He plays the best tennis when he needs to, which a lot of players don’t. That’s why he’s the world No. 1.” — Alexander Zverev on Novak Djokovic
