Simona halep in press conference. 2019 Miami open

Petra Kvitova in press conference. 2019 Miami open

Elina Svitolina in press conference. Internazionali BNL d'Italia 2018.

Karolina Pliskova in press conference. The best moments

Elina Svitolina in press conference. Bnp Paribas open 2018

Elena Vesnina in press conference. 2017 Kremlin cup

Vesnina spoke candidly about dealing with pressure over the course of the year.

"I didn’t lose my motivation," the World No.20 said on Monday. "It was a tough season, a long one, and you don’t always go on court being in your best form. In women’s tennis, you lose your confidence so fast.

"You think you’ve just won a [Premier Mandatory] or a Grand Slam, but you always have this...pressure, and it is not so easy."

Caroline garcia in press conference. 2017 China open

Anastasija sevastova in press conference. Us open 2017

USOpen.org: What's the adjustment been like to see yourself as a Top 20 player and the top seed at tournaments?

Anastasija Sevastova: Well, for sure, it's tough. From one side, it's nice to be seeded at a tournament and be Top 20, but from the other side, you have more to lose, maybe, and everybody wants to beat you. But I'm still happy with my season.

USOpen.org: Does it make it extra special to achieve what you have, given you retired from the sport after suffering so many physical problems?

Sevastova: I think it's a little bit stupid question to ask that (smiling). For sure, it's special to be as high as I am right now. It's my highest ranking, and to start from nothing in 2015 and then come up that high, of course, it's very special.

USOpen.org: How excited are you to return to the US Open, where last year you had your best Grand Slam result? And how are you feeling about your chances there for this year?

Sevastova: I'm very excited about US Open. It's my favorite tournament. It was amazing atmosphere last year, and I hope I can achieve something there. But you never know. Women's tennis is so strong. My chances there? It depends if you get a good draw and some openings, you always have a chance, as you can see with [what happened at] Roland Garros and Wimbledon. They were unpredictable winners maybe, as you can see. But anyway, it's tough. The first rounds are always tough at a Grand Slam, so we'll see.

Mónica Puig in press conference. Us open 2017

USOpen.org: How tough has this season been after last year's huge breakthrough

Monica Puig: It has been a little bit crazy. I really haven't done as well as i would have hoped. It hasa been very disappointing. But, I am trying to work my way through it and I'm still learning. It's all about learning and continuing to grow. I know my tennis is there. At one point in time it will come back to me. 

USOpen.org: Has there been anything good to come out from this year's struggles?

Puig: As long as I keep learning from these type of experiences, it will be good. If it it would happen again I think I will have a little bit better idea of how to handle things. 

US Open.org: What is the most important thing that you have had to learn? 

Puig: Dealing with the pressure and just having fun and embracing it all. Sometimes when you get caught up in all of the pressure there is a lot of stress, so you are not necessarily enjoying yourself out there. The number one thing is to try to have fun out on the court and that's what i was trying to tell the kids [today].. Even at this level if you are not having fun out there it is not going to work.

Kristina Mladenovic in press conference. Us open 2017

USOpen.org: You've been one of the best-performing players on tour this year. What has helped you go to the next level in singles in 2017?

Kristina Mladenovic: Nothing much has changed around me, but I'd say the biggest difference for me was my physical conditioning. So my all-around game improved also, my level increased, and just the work is paying off. I guess also maturity. I'm 24 now, and it's coming closer probably to my experienced maturity – let’s say the peak. And I'm just happy that things are going the way I was aiming and just trying now to keep working and keep on improving.

USOpen.org: One of your biggest results was an exciting run to the Roland Garros quarterfinals. How do you reflect on those two weeks in Paris?

Mladenovic: It was obviously a great achievement for me. I always feel like I've been playing well at the French, reaching the third round the last four years, I think ... reaching for the first time the second week [this year], when I was the most expected [to], extra pressure compared to usually, so I'm pretty satisfied I overcame that challenge. And also having those super-big matches with lots of suspense and drama – to pull through it, I have kind of a proud feeling. It was overall a great tournament for me and hopefully can just help me for the next years. Of course, it's a great feeling to reach quarters – it's my second in a Slam after the US Open. Hopefully I can build on it.

Petra kvitova in press conference of the Wimbledon 2017

LONDON, Great Britain
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova does not see herself as the odds on favorite for the upcoming Championships, Wimbledon, despite being one of just two former winners of the tournament in this year's women's draw.

"I think we still do have a great players in the draw, even Serena is not playing," the Czech said in pre-tournament press on Saturday. "I mean, I think it's a few favorites of the tournament, but it's very open - so who knows who's going to win."

Petra kvitova in press conference. French Open 2017

"The fairytale ended. Now, in upcoming weeks, I think it will be business as usual," the Czech said. "That's what I'm looking forward to, just focusing on the tennis and on the game and everything what I do need to improve to my game."

"Coming to Roland Garros was one of the things, which we were [doing in] preparing for Wimbledon - we do have a lot of attention here," Kvitova said on the tournament where she is a two-time champion. "Wimbledon should be much more relaxed afterwards. I really am looking forward to being there. It's a really great tournament for me. I have the best memories which I can have.

"I think that, you know, my game still suits the grass, and I will do my best to be there. I will really enjoy the time to be there. We will have a house again in Wimbledon Village and will be similar to other years. I'm happy that I will not miss Wimbledon this year."

Simona halep into press conference. French Open day 3

“Maybe I was a little bit tight. It's like many things happened today, first round, French Open, the leg, I didn't know how it was gonna be,” Halep said. “(I was) a little bit nervous because I changed court, so it's not easy.

“I think I did well. I served pretty well after a few games when I started to roll it a little bit more. So I think I was good today. In the second set, she came back a little bit stronger, and she hit the ball stronger, but I was there.

“I was strong on my legs. And I think I did a great game. It is not easy against her, because I lost at Wimbledon.”

It was a scrappy start as both traded early breaks.

“I'm just another player in the draw. I just have confidence that I can win matches, but I'm not thinking about the results – just the big picture.”

Maria Sharapova in Brisbane 2016. Press Conference

BRISBANE, Australia 
Just ahead of her title defense at the Brisbane International, Maria Sharapova met the press at the Premier-level tournament on Friday and discussed everything from her off-season, a tricky first round draw and a tantalizing potential semifinal showdown against Simona Halep. But first things first, her first round draw - and it's a doozy. Sharapova drew fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova, who isn't just a former Top 10 player, but a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist. 

 "The last time we played was in the semifinals of a Grand Slam, last year in Australia, and I don't think we've played since," Sharapova said. 
"She was injured at the end of last year and I haven't seen her play much because of that, but that's a pretty high quality first match against a tough opponent." Should the No.3-seeded Sharapova escape Makarova and eventually emerge out of her quarter of the draw, which includes No.7 seed Belinda Bencic, she could play No.1 seed Halep in the semifinals. 
 Though she's never lost to Halep, the World No.4 isn't taking anything for granted.

MARIA SHARAPOVA IN PRESS CONFERENCE. INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA 2015

Maria Sharapova of Russia faces the media during a press conference on Day Three of the The Internazionali BNL d'Italia 2015

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI IN PRESS CONFERENCE. INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA 2015

Caroline Wozniacki is known for her running, not just her tennis ability. 
Last November, the Dane ran the New York City marathon raising more than US$80,000 for charity. But if you see a tennis player running around the cobbled streets of Rome it will more than likely be Wozniacki after she admitted she went on an extended jog while in Madrid last week. 
 Wozniacki of course is looking to add to the one trophy she won in Kuala Lumpur and two finals. 
 “I still do a lot of running,” she said. “Basically every day, not the long runs that I’m used to. 
In Madrid Ijust felt like doing a 10 mile run and Idid that. 
 “I enjoy the clay now. I think I’ve played well and I’m feeling quite good about my about my game. I had to be here and I’meven more excited for the French Open coming up.
” Wozniacki could be set for an early second round meeting with Victoria Azarenka with the Belarusian playing Casey Dellacqua in the first round. 
 “It’s fine,” she said. 
“This year no match is easy for me. 
It is a hard draw for me.”

Ana Ivanovic in press Conference. Abierto Monterrey Afirme Monterrey. THE ORIGINAL PIC

Ana Ivanovic in press Conference. 
Abierto Monterrey Afirme Monterrey. 
THE ORIGINAL PIC

EUGENIE BOUCHARD WIN IN 1 ROUND OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2015. PRESS CONFERENCE

Q. Good to come through the first round of a Grand Slam with a good victory like that? 
 EUGENIE BOUCHARD: Yeah, I mean, I think the first round is always tough, especially at the beginning of the season. So I'm happy I was able to stay pretty solid. I think she played pretty well. That's something I guess I have to expect. Now often players will kind of go for it and play a really good level against me. Yeah, I'm happy I stayed calm out there and pretty solid. 
 Q. How did you find Margaret Court Arena as a venue? 
 EUGENIE BOUCHARD: Really cool. It's a cute little stadium. I think there was good atmosphere on the court. Makes playing so much more fun. I don't know if the fans have fun, but we certainly have fun. 

 Q. Did you always feel control out there? 
 EUGENIE BOUCHARD: You know, I was just kind of focused on every point. It was definitely kind of a tougher back-and-forth battle in the second. But I just stayed calm and I knew once I got a chance I would try to take it, and that's what I did at the end of the second. I had to kind of weather the storm a little bit when she'd serve well or go for her shots. A couple times she could string together a couple good points. 
 Q. When you were a junior, being a twin yourself, what do you make of the Pliskova sisters? Do you ever think of what it would be like if your twin was on tour? 
 EUGENIE BOUCHARD: First of all, this reminds me of the announcer. When I was on court he mentioned my twin sister, Beatrice. It was super weird. He even mentioned like Prince Andrew and stuff. I'm doing overheads and I'm like, Did he just say Prince Andrew? Like what does that have to do with my tennis career? I don't know what that was about. I think I'll talk to them. I don't know. (Smiling). But, yeah, I mean, well, my twin sister started with me when I was five and she retired at six. I never had the chance to think about, Oh, this would be cool if we could travel on tour together. It ended pretty quickly for her. But, yeah, I think it's really cool to have like so many successful people like that in one family. But I think it would be tough, as well, if you would ever play against each other. I look at the Williams sisters. I don't know if I'd be able to do it. It's so tough to, I don't know, compete against someone like that, who you want them to win just as much as you want to win. I don't know. I think it's good that she doesn't play tennis.

MARIA SHARAPOVA ADVANCES IN AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2015. PRESS CONFERENCE

Q. Does this year feel any different to previous years coming to the Open? Coaching situation sorted out, tournament win before you get here, feel different at all? 
 MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I think I'm in a much more comfortable situation than I was last year. My goal last year at this time was just to play as many matches as I could to get a good feeling to see where my shoulder was, where I was physically, you know, how I would cope with playing a lot of matches. Yeah, of course with a new team, a few new members of the team. So it's been a year since that. It was definitely great to get a title in last week. Played a few different matches. I don't think I've done that in my career, winning a title to begin the year. That was nice. When you come here everything is new and fresh. Of course, it's a nice feeling to have that victory, but you have to start from scratch. 

 Q. What do you make of your form tonight? 
 MARIA SHARAPOVA: I felt the conditions were a little different than the week before. I practiced in the day. I played a few night matches in Brisbane with the roof. It was a little cooler out there. Overall the courts have been playing a little faster. Tonight was a little heavier. But I played an opponent that's capable of playing very good tennis. She's been injured a little bit I believe in the last year or so, but she can play. She's got some, you know, big weapons. For a first round against someone that's already played a few matches, I knew I had to be really strong from the beginning. 
 Q. What do you make of Li Na's announcement tonight that she's expecting? What sort of mom do you think she might be? 
 MARIA SHARAPOVA: I think she'd be a great mom. Yeah, I think it's a really exciting new chapter in her life. Yeah, it's something that I believe she's wanted for a really long time. It's really nice to be able to settle down and focus on her family and her husband and her future child. 
 Q. Is that something you eventually would like? 
 MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, definitely. I grew up being very close to -- my mom had me when she was very young, but I grew up having her as my best friend. It's a special -- I wish that hopefully one day I'll be able to have that type of relationship with my mom and with my parents, because I know when you're younger you're a bit more rebellious. But I've always enjoyed spending time with my parents, even though my dad was a coach of mine for many years. Still is when I'm home. I love having them around. I'm an only child, so they get to spoil me a little bit. But, yeah, it's a special feeling.
Q. Your colleague, Ana Ivanovic, had a tough result today. If I read the record right, since your first year I don't think you've had a single loss in a Grand Slam first round. 
 MARIA SHARAPOVA: I have. I think it was against Kirilenko here.

SERENA WILLIAMS IN PRESS CONFERENCE. US OPEN 201

WILLIAMS IN PRESS CONFERENCE AUSTRALIAN OPEN. 

Q. The moment really seemed to hit you out on the court there. Was it the No. 18 that really came through to you?

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yes, it was definitely the number 18. I have been trying to reach it for so long, since last year. Well, since the beginning of the year. I didn't really think would I get there. I just felt so good.

Q. What does it mean for you overall to be up there with the other great names?

SERENA WILLIAMS: It means a lot to me. You know, I just could never have imagined that I would be mentioned with Chris Evert or with Martina Navratilova, because I was just a kid with a dream and a racquet. Living in Compton, you know, this never happened before. You know, I just never could have imagined that it could have ended -- not ended. I'm just beginning. Well, I'm not beginning, but I could have gotten this far, you know. So it was just -- I think it was -- and then it was eluding me for three tournaments, I guess. But, still that's a lot for me. I was like, you know, really excited to get it.

Q. You never lost more than three games per set in this tournament. By the end, every time you win you seemed so excited, almost unbelievable. How do you explain? They are easy matches or not?

SERENA WILLIAMS: No, none of the matches are easy. I mean, even today if I would have lost a game I would have been serving for it. Caroline was returning, starting to play a lot better, starting to return really, really well, and then she started serving really well. So we had longer points and we were running back and forth and back and forth. So it definitely wasn't anything that was easy.

Q. Coming in you downplayed a little bit the fact that this was your last chance at a Grand Slam title this year and that it wasn't that essential, but I'm thinking that you thought it was pretty important to close out a season without a slam.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah.

Q. Now that it's over and you've done it...

SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, it feels good. I definitely did not think I was going to win a slam this year. And I even said, I'm ready to start next year already. Let's put this behind me. Oh, I'm embarrassed. I feel really honored and I feel really good. Just almost lost for words. I'm grateful to win a Grand Slam this year. It feels really good.

Q. Congrats, kid.

SERENA WILLIAMS: Thanks.