Gael Monfils, paying tribute to 14-time champion Rafael Nadal after the Spaniard’s first-round loss to Alexander Zverev:
“It’s important, because he’s our legend. He’s everybody’s legend. He’s back. It’s impossible not to watch him, impossible. When I say it’s important, it’s more than that. I know that I love him, whatever happens.”
Rafael Nadal, with a smile, on his 37-year-old body:
“I cannot tell you if I will be or not in one month and a half, because my body has been a jungle for two years. You don’t know what to expect. I wake up one day and I find a snake biting me. Another day a tiger.”
Naomi Osaka, after losing a heartbreaking three-setter to Iga Swiatek in the second round:
“I cried when I got off the court, but then, for me, I kind of realise I was watching Iga win this tournament last year, and I was pregnant. It was just my dream to be able to play her. When I kind of think of it like that, I think I’m doing pretty well.”
Alizé Cornet, giving advice to her 15-year-old self after her last professional match at Roland-Garros:
“I would just say stay as you are and be yourself. Don’t fight to be perfect, because you will never be perfect, and you will waste a lot of energy doing so.
“Be genuine. Be loyal and truthful, and people will accept you as you are or not. At 15 years old, the teenager that I was already knew what she had to do as far as tennis was concerned but it’s another thing to accept one’s self as we are as a person.”