Ryan Harrison
(August 31, 2016) FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – Posting player interviews throughout the day when allowed.
Note from the US Open Media Operations Guide as why Tennis Panorama News is allowed to post transcripts:
Transcripts of player interviews cannot be posted until one (1) hour after the interview has ended. Player transcripts can only be posted on the website of the publication that was accredited.
Rafael Nadal
Press Conference
R. NADAL/A. Seppi
6-0, 7-5, 6-1
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. What was it like playing out there before and after the roof closed? Did you notice any change?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, is good. Is great to be the first player to play with the roof closed, on the competition, because I was the first player to hit in the center court with the roof closed.
Just happy. The difference is not many. No big difference. With the roof open there is no wind at all, so is not a big change. And the roof is so high you don’t feel that you are closed, no? That’s my feeling. Today I didn’t feel the change.
Is great. Is an unbelievable, unbelievable court. So nice.
Q. Garbine and some other players were talking about the noise. Did you notice the general noise?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, that surprised me. Was a little bit more noise than usual. No, I didn’t feel the difference when the roof was closed and when the roof was open, but is true that for the first… You get used later.
But in the beginning, in tennis, normally you are used to play with silence.
I don’t know, with the new court, even if the roof is open, there is more noise out there. Normally probably is not the fault of the people, because I have been playing here for so many years and I don’t remember that noise when you are playing, no?
Was little bit strange. For moments was little bit too much during the points. I always love the energy and the noise of the New York crowd. Is just fantastic. You know, I feel very close to them because I play with a lot of passion, and they give me that electricity, that passion, no?
But is true that was a little bit more noisy than usual.
Q. Was it frustrating at times with the noise? Do you feel like it can be a distraction moving forward for you and for other players at this tournament?
RAFAEL NADAL: No. The only thing they have to control a little bit better when the gates are open and when the gates are closed. They have to close the gates not when finish the minute, you know, when the change. They don’t have to close the gate when that minute is finish, they have to close few seconds before.
Every time you waiting. I know is so difficult because the court is very big. Is so difficult.
Yeah, but from the people who are inside, should be a little bit of rules that, you know, they cannot leave his seat during the game. They have to leave the seat when is a changeover, no? That’s all. That’s not a big deal. Is not a big distraction. That’s the rules of tennis that normally happen. That’s all.
Q. Would you say there is much more difference in Australia and Wimbledon when the roof is closed than here?
RAFAEL NADAL: I feel it’s little bit different because here the roof is higher. How much higher is the roof, less feeling of indoor court you have.
Q. Talk about how you felt out there tonight, your second match, how the wrist felt, the forehand, how it feels to be back in the third round of a major.
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I was in the third round on Roland Garros, but I didn’t play.
The real thing is not big thing be in the third round again. But for sure every match is important. That’s my philosophy. That’s my way to play every tournament, no?
Every round is important. Every point is important. Today was a good win. I think first set was unfair because 6-0 was not the right result. Had been lot of chances for both of us in lots of games, so should be much closer.
I feel that I played little bit more aggressive than the first round. I feel myself better than in the first round. That’s always a positive thing, feel you are improving a little bit during the event. That’s the way I need to keep improving.
Next round is very tough opponent. I know him well. I played him this year I think at the beginning of the season in Doha. He’s aggressive player. He has lots of big shots from the baseline and he’s very dangerous. I need to improve, playing longer, playing higher, changing speeds, changing the rhythm of the ball with the slice, and then every time I need to hit more forehands winner.
The last forehand of the match was great. I hit some good forehands down the line again. That’s important shot for me, no? It’s important for me to hit that cross high forehand, but then change the forehand down the line. When I am able to change the forehand down the line, then the cross high with lot of spin, cross-court forehand, have a bigger impact.
Q. Who do you expect to play in the finals?
RAFAEL NADAL: In the finals?
Q. Yes.
RAFAEL NADAL: I don’t expect. I don’t think about finals when I am in the third round, no? That’s the real thing. I didn’t have been in the finals for a while. I’m coming back from an injury. For me is impossible now to think about these kind of things.
I’m going day by day. I’m happy to be back on the tour. I’m happy that the wrist is improving. Now I am focused on trying to practice well tomorrow morning.
Q. Milos Raonic lost. How does that change your outlook in the draw?
RAFAEL NADAL: My draw is Kuznetsov. That’s the real thing. Probably is a negative thing for the tournament that Milos lost, because he is the number third on the race. He is one of the stars of the world. Is true that is one competitor of me during the season, especially because I have been out for two months. He is higher than me on the race.
If I am able to play a good tournament here is going to be a positive thing, but the real thing is I am going day by day, no? Sorry for Milos. Happens. I think he felt bad on the court. I saw him little bit. Probably was cramping little bit. From the end of the second set I feel he could not move much.
The day was very heavy, very humid. Was not very hot, but very humid. That’s always dangerous.
Madison Keys
Press Conference
M. KEYS/K. Day
6-1, 6-1
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Was it kind of a surreal moment to be playing Kayla at a Grand Slam?
MADISON KEYS: It was funny because everyone kept saying I was the veteran on court. I really didn’t like that title.
But, no, she was a sweetheart. She obviously worked really hard to get the wild card and she beat Madison in the first round. I definitely think we’ll see a lot of Kayla.
Q. After the late finish the other morning, relieved to get this businesslike performance in and out and prepare for the third round?
MADISON KEYS: Yeah, for sure. It’s funny because this is still technically a late finish, but I’ll take this one over the 2:00 a.m. any day. I was really happy that I got on the court, kind of went out there and did what I wanted to do from the start, and was able to get off the court as a semi-decent hour.
Q. What was your recovery like after that late match? What time did you get to bed? What was the day afterwards like?
MADISON KEYS: When I got home I had a little bit of treatment done and all that. By the time I was getting in bed it was almost 4:00. Then I came out and I practiced at like 2:30 the next day maybe, so didn’t get a ton of sleep.
But then went back that afternoon, got some more treatment, and napped. Then I slept for like 10 and a half hours last night. So felt a little bit better this morning.
Q. Kayla said you and she have known each other for a few years now. What kind of relationship do you have and what do you think of her game?
MADISON KEYS: Yeah, I’ve known her for a couple of years. She was kind of always the younger group when I was in the older group, I guess. It’s funny. She used to make fun of my music. She’s like, It’s so old.
It’s not, though. You’re just a baby.
Q. Anything specific she made fun of?
MADISON KEYS: ’90s music, early 2000 music. She’s like, I never heard of this band.
Oh, my God, you’re so young.
No, but she’s a total sweetheart. She’s always been really nice. It was great to see that she won the wild card tournament.
Yeah, I definitely think we’ll see her around. I think she has a great serve and a really solid forehand. No doubt that she’ll be around.
Q. Your next opponent is Naomi Osaka. How much do you know about her?
MADISON KEYS: I know her a little bit. I’ve practiced with her in Boca a couple of times. She’s an aggressive player. She’s been playing well. She’s steadily been moving up the rankings. She’s going to be a tough opponent.
I don’t know a ton about her game. I’m definitely expecting a tough match.
Q. You are usually the younger player on court. When you play against a player younger than you, do you feel some pressure or…
MADISON KEYS: No. I think it’s eventually kind of how it goes. Yeah, she’s definitely going to be playing with no pressure and going to be going for her shots a lot more. That’s expected.
But I think I can kind of draw more on my experience and I guess be the veteran on the court again.
Q. When you practiced with Naomi in Boca, how does that come about? Who sets it up? Do you interact at all, or is it businesslike: we hit on court, sit and drink water, hit again, call it a day?
MADISON KEYS: No. I actually worked with her fitness trainer, Mark Wellington. I don’t know if she’s still working with her. He asked. I was in Boca. I love hitting against other girls sometimes and mixing it up.
I mean, we definitely talked. We didn’t sit down and like braid each other’s hair or anything, but there was definitely some conversation.
Q. Happy medium between those two?
MADISON KEYS: Yeah, a happy medium between BFFs and not speaking.
She always seemed nice enough, always friendly, but I don’t know her super well.
Q. Does it get easier for you now that the tournament progresses? You look so fresh. It’s different than last week, because I think there were some tough days in the heat.
MADISON KEYS: Yeah, my fitness especially is usually tough the first couple of days the week before a slam, and then it tapers off. Thursday, Friday there’s definitely some heavy legs, not moving great, but it’s just so that I peak at the right moment and feel really good once the tournament starts.
Q. How different do you feel coming into the US Open this year compared to last year?
MADISON KEYS: I feel pretty good. Last year I felt like I was a little bit rushed getting into the tournament, practicing, all that. This year I feel I’ve done everything I can. I feel really fit right now. So I feel pretty good.
Q. Kayla said she was pretty thrilled by the court change. It was floated like an idea to her, and all of a sudden she was going. How did they notify you? How much time did you have?
MADISON KEYS: I had a feeling it might have happened just because that court was going long. But I guess maybe an hour and a half before we saw that it was a potential court change. Then the WTA came to me and said, If they split sets, you’ll probably be moved to Armstrong.
So, I mean, it was pretty normal.
Q. Is it more fun chasing than being chased? You’re in the top 10 now, kind of a veteran. Maybe people feel a little bit less pressure when they play you.
MADISON KEYS: I think so. I think getting to this point is always really fun. There’s a lot less pressure, but obviously you want to be here.
So I think I look at it as a positive and think of all the hard work I did to get here, and then just think now it’s a different aspect of it. I think that’s just as much fun. That’s part of the game. That’s kind of the next step.
Q. You talked about the happy medium before. You wouldn’t consider yourself a veteran, but you’re not one of the new kids on the block. How important is that in your weekly routine to have that experience under your belt?
MADISON KEYS: I definitely think it helps a lot. It’s something that — after tough losses everyone was like, Don’t worry. This will help you with the experience. All that. I thought they were crazy. It would have been so much better to win.
No, it definitely has helped. Having lots of I guess you could say Grand Slam matches now has been really beneficial. I’m more comfortable playing every week, being in these same tournaments, and just kind of knowing what to expect a little bit more.
Q. Was there a specific moment where you felt like you belonged?
MADISON KEYS: I think it’s baby steps in a way. Like when I broke into the top 50, it was, Okay, now I feel like I belong in the top 50.
Then top 20, it took a little bit of time to feel like I really belonged in the top 20.
You know, I think it’s a learning process. Knowing that you belong there is something that you go out and you work for every day. I think for me it’s just feeling really confident in my fitness and all the preparation off of the court and on the practice court that helps me feel like I do belong once I’m in the match setting.
Anastasija Sevastova
Press Conference
A. SEVASTOVA/G. Muguruza
7-5, 6-4
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. How does it feel to win this one?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: I don’t know. It still hasn’t settled in. I mean, I’m tired mentally and it’s late. Normally I go to sleep at this time.
It feels great, but it’s still not like I won the tournament. It’s only second round. Yeah.
Q. When you were deciding to come back from retirement, what were all the reasons? You mentioned on court wanting to play matches like this. Were you feeling better physically?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: Yeah, I was playing a little bit. I was doing some sparring. It was better, I mean, physically. I was still playing okay. That’s why I think I decided to try again to come back.
But you never know. I mean, a lot of people are trying to come back, and sometimes it doesn’t work out. Yeah, that’s why I wanted to start from the beginning, from the easiest — not the easiest, but the lower future level.
Q. You mentioned having more calm in this stage of your career. Do you feel like this paid off as you were trying to close out that match today?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: I don’t think so. (Laughter.) I didn’t feel calm inside. I mean, 5-1…
Maybe it helped me at 5-4 to break her because I was still leading. But serving out, I don’t know why. There were a couple close calls on the serve and close points.
I mean, she was playing better, but still I think I earned to win that match.
Q. What was going through your mind as it went from 5-1 to 5-4?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: Then I stopped thinking, I think. I was thinking too much at 5-2, 5-3. Then I said, Okay, I have one more chance at 5-4. She’s serving. I broke her before enough times, so I will try this one more time.
And still, then it’s 5-All. It’s still open match like the first set, so…
Q. When you saw you were going to play Garbine Muguruza on Arthur Ashe Stadium, what was your reaction to that? Did you think you would have preferred an easier draw? Were you looking forward to it?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: I thought, Why do they put me on Ashe at 7:00 p.m.? I mean, I think they thought it should be a good match. It was kind of surprise to play at 7:00 night match on Ashe.
But still it’s an experience. I think it will help me in the future.
Q. Was that your first time stepping onto that court, Ashe?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: Yes.
Q. Did you take a moment to kind of look around? What was going through your mind?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: I was warming up in the morning there. The roof was closed. So, yeah, it’s a huge court.
It was so loud. We were warming up. There was nobody. It was quiet. But tonight it was really loud. It was tough to play. Yeah.
I think she was also having problems in the beginning. I mean, you have to get used to it. I think I managed pretty well in the second set.
Q. Does it sound different?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: Yeah, yeah. I find it’s much different. I mean, sometimes you don’t hear the ball hit, so it’s coming to you and you think it’s still somewhere there.
Yeah, in the second set it was easier to manage to not hear all the noises.
Q. Is it distracting?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: Would it distract you when the crowd is full?
Q. It was loud during points and everything.
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: For sure it’s distracting in the beginning. I mean, you don’t expect it. But it’s Arthur Ashe. I mean, how many thousand people are there?
Q. 22.
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: Yeah. You have to accept it.
Q. Does this validate the comeback?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: Yeah, for sure. It’s not like it’s my last match. It’s still going on. It’s not like it’s over, the tournament. It’s only second round. Now it’s the third round in two days. Tomorrow I have to play doubles, so…
Yeah, it’s a good feeling. We can enjoy it today, but tomorrow is a new day. There are other matches. Nobody thinks about the previous match. You have to think forward. Tonight I can enjoy. Yeah.
Q. That’s a pretty grounded perspective. A lot of people in your position might think far ahead. Is this something you had to work on?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: I think I had to work on it when I took the time off. I think I manage it better now that I stay in the moment. I mean, sometimes it’s tough to stay in the moment. It’s tough to not look ahead. Like when I play now 5-2 I was looking ahead. I had matchpoints.
Yeah, you have to have it under control.
Q. When you weren’t playing, when you took the break, what were the best and worst parts of that time?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: The best part’s you’re staying in one place. You have home. You can meet friends. You can do normal stuff.
Yeah, you’re not traveling that much, but you still have more time for everything, for family, for boyfriend, studying, just enjoying. Yeah.
Q. And the worst part?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: The worst part? I don’t think there’s a worst part. There is no worst part. There are good things in every job.
Q. You play Bondarenko next.
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: Great head-to-head. Head-to-head is not good. (Laughter). I remember I played Wimbledon against her. Oh, and in Dubai this year. Great match. Great match.
I came from Taiwan on the night flight, and then I step on the court the next day. That was great, great feeling. (Smiling.)
So, yeah, it’s tough to play her. She’s tough competitor. She hits the ball hard. I have to play a good game.
Q. You’re going to enjoy it tonight and then move on. What does ‘enjoying it’ mean?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: I go to Five Guys maybe, eat a burger. (Laughter.)
I don’t know. Maybe have some drinks. My mom is here but she’s leaving tomorrow. It’s her first Grand Slam. And my best friend. We’ll maybe go somewhere. They will drink; I will watch. (Laughter.)
Q. You spoiled your mom. She’s going to think this is how all Grand Slams…
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: She’s like, I’m staying here. I’m staying here. I don’t want to go to work.
Q. You’ve been playing for a while at Grand Slams. Why was this her first one?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: What do you mean?
Q. Why this one?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: I don’t know. She likes to be at home. She likes her work. She’s an English teacher, so I have to be careful how I talk. I don’t know why she didn’t. It hasn’t worked out because she has always school at that time of the year. She cannot miss that much.
But now I think she’s, like, I’m stopping. I’m not going anymore. I’m traveling with you.
Q. Earlier this year you made in the final in Mallorca. I heard you were in the hospital at the start of the tournament and then went on to make the final. Here you get this crazy draw. A few years ago you were retired. Life can be a little funny.
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: Can be tricky. I was speaking with Ronnie, (phonetic) my boyfriend. We were talking like, Yeah, last year you were in the quallies US Open. You were so pumped to be in the quallies, to have a chance to be again on that stage. I lost first round quallies.
This year playing on Ashe, life can be funny sometimes, yeah.
Q. If I have it right, Latvian players are famous for their wealthy parents. Is your mother as rich as Gulbis’ father?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: No. She’s working as an English teacher.
Q. Does she have a good salary?
ANASTASIJA SEVASTOVA: You want to hear it or what? No, I won’t tell you.
Garbine Muguruza
Press Conference
A. SEVASTOVA/G. Muguruza
7-5, 6-4
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You started coming back in the second set. Did you feel like the match was starting to swing back into your favor?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: Well, I think it was a very tough match. I think I didn’t play well today. I think she also played well. Everything she was doing was kind of working. Maybe at the last part of the match we could feel we can have a chance to come back, but, in fact, was like 50/50.
So at the end she played well, and that’s it.
Q. What did you make of the conditions? It seemed loud in the arena.
GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yeah. I felt a lot of noise, a lot of noise on the court.
Q. Did you ever experience that before this match?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: Not that noisy.
Q. What was the main problem with your game today?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: Well, I think, first of all, I’m not playing my best level. It’s very rare also when you play your best. I’m just trying to look, What else can I do, how to work more the match, how to find more resources.
I think today was just very difficult. Everything I was trying to do she was coming back and doing incredible shots. She was moving very well also.
Tough today.
Q. How nervous were you out there today? Any more nervous than any other match when you take the court? Was it a little bit more?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: Well, I think I’m always nervous, even if I play not on the center court. No, I was nervous, I don’t know, like other matches, but for sure playing against someone that is nervous, but is not the same. Is different kind of nerves.
Like, Let’s go out and play on center court and see if I win. It’s different feeling. C’mon, you got to go for the match. It’s a little bit tricky sometimes.
Q. You played a lot of tennis, a lot of different tournaments this year. That adds up. She’s someone who took two years off in the middle of her career and came back and had good success in her comeback. Do you ever wish there was a way to slow down tennis and get more time to rest? Do you think that can be helpful?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: Well, not right now for me. I think this is something personal. When you’re tired you say, Hey, I need to rest from tennis or something. So far I always want to keep, like, playing and continue, I don’t know, the tour. Keep having chances to win matches and tournaments and everything. I don’t really want to stop right now for anything.
Q. Do you count this loss as part of the New York mojo? It’s not been a tournament you’ve been really able to get your hands around here. Is it something that you see consistently year to year that is an issue for you at this tournament, or is it just bad luck or bad draws?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: I don’t know. I try to give all. I try to fight on court. She was just better. I don’t know if it’s bad luck.
No, I don’t think so. But, well, I did my best result again. I’m just saying that. (Smiling.)
Q. People have talked for quite a few years before you about how tough it is to follow up a Grand Slam. Do you feel you’re still at all in a French Open hangover of some sort, or is that not the case anymore?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: You know what? I don’t think about the French Open any second. It’s past. Everybody’s looking forward to the next one, the next tournament. Of course you have in your mind it’s a great achievement. No matter what, it’s a Grand Slam trophy.
I’m not thinking at all when I come here that I won the French Open. This is new tournament. I’m like, Let’s see how far I can get. Hopefully is like French Open. But no.
Q. Anything you have decided to work on especially hard since this loss? Anything you want to improve for the end of the season?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: I mean, a lot of things. Maybe to prepare a little bit more the matches.
I don’t really know exactly. I think hopefully have better days. I don’t know, just play perfect. I don’t know what to tell you, something specific.
Q. Here there is almost a constant buzz, noise. Did that interfere with the play of tennis? Could you comment about the sound?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: I didn’t feel silence at any moment. It was continuously a noise. I think it’s very big, this stadium, also. It’s kind of echo. It’s just like continuously. But it’s the same for the other player, you know.
But, yeah, I felt like this is — when I was serving I was like, It’s not quiet. People are like — it’s okay. It’s just like that.
Q. Since Paris it’s been non-stop tennis. Even before Paris, Madrid, Rome. Are you looking forward to being able to get back to Europe and also take a little bit of a time out before the Asian swing begins? How long do you think you’ll have before you can reset?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: Yeah, for sure I will rest a little bit, but I think the best is just to keep playing. I mean, I’d rather keep playing and have more chances in other tournaments than taking a long break.
Even though today is not my favorite match, this is not going to stop me of resting some days and going back in Asia and trying to do like last year.
Q. When you talk about preparing for matches more, in terms of preparing for opponents more, doing more scouting, or physical preparation?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: Well, I think a little bit of everything. I mean, I don’t know really exactly what is. But, I don’t know, maybe being less nervous. Sometimes when you go into the match you want it so badly. I think sometimes is tricky. It makes you a little bit like tense and nervous.
I guess it’s normal.
Q. Petra earlier today was saying she genuinely has no idea how she’s going to play on any given day, no matter what her level is. Is that something that you relate to at all or is that foreign to you? You kind of know when you’re in a good way?
GARBINE MUGURUZA: Oh, I think I know way before how I feel. You can have a couple of games where you play bad or very good. I think I’m a type of player that days before I know how I feel, if I’m playing good, if I’m playing bad. This is not like lottery here.
Catherine Bellis
Press Conference
C. BELLIS/S. Rogers
2-6, 6-2, 6-2
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. A great win. How did you turn that second set around? Then the third set looked like you were fired up.
CATHERINE BELLIS: Yeah, I think in the first set I didn’t have a lot of rhythm. The points were kind of quick. Couldn’t really get my feet involved in my game very much.
In the second, I just told myself from the beginning my feet need to be way fast faster, I need to be way sharper to comeback and win that. Obviously she’s such a great player. I lost to her before.
I think just being really focused and getting my feet involved and getting really pumped up is how I did it.
Q. You mentioned having lost to her before. In your mind, what was the biggest change, the surface or…
CATHERINE BELLIS: Yeah, I think the surface did today, played to my strength. I think I played a little bit better today than the last time, too. A little bit smarter.
Q. You played with a lot of emotion out there today, played off the crowd, especially the group in the corner. How does the crowd help you?
CATHERINE BELLIS: It makes me play better. When I get them involved — I mean, today was the turning point of the match when I started winning a couple points, started stringing a few together, got them involved, and that just kept pumping me up even more and made me play better.
Q. Did you know the group in the corner?
CATHERINE BELLIS: They came out to first-round qualifying and have been to every single one of my matches since. One of them messaged me on Instagram and asked for tickets, and so I got them into my box today. Yeah, I guess we’re getting closer. Yeah, they are a great group. Oh, my god. They call themselves Team CiCi, so it was fun.
Q. Are they from California?
CATHERINE BELLIS: I think they’re from Rhode Island. I think I read that in one of their Instagram bios. I don’t know much about them at all. (Laughter.)
Q. You’re likely to keep moving up in size as you go along. Is it likely to get you more charged, or do you think it might be a different story if you were on Ashe?
CATHERINE BELLIS: I’m not sure. I never played on Ashe before. I’ll have to see. I think it would just be even better for me, more fun for me.
Q. How different is this moment now compared to two years ago?
CATHERINE BELLIS: It means so much more to me. I think now that, like, I got through two rounds — a couple years ago I got through one, but getting through two, and also, like I said the other day, passing qualifying was huge for me. Getting through the last two rounds was really, really big.
Q. The other day you spoke about your situation with prize money, expenses, so forth. You already moved up to a suite. What do you think can you do now? Buy the hotel?
CATHERINE BELLIS: I think I just moved up to a regular suite. Maybe the presidential suite this time. (Laughter.)
No, I think I’ll just stay in the room I’m in now. I don’t know what I’m going to do with the rest of it.
Q. Next match, Angelique Kerber. What are your thoughts on her?
CATHERINE BELLIS: I’ve never played her before. She’s 2 in the world obviously and an amazing player. It will be a lot of fun for me. I haven’t put much thought into it yet. I’ll think about it tomorrow or in a couple days when my match is closer.
Q. If that match is on a show court, will that be a positive for you? Will you feed off the crowd playing in a bigger environment?
CATHERINE BELLIS: Yeah, I think that will definitely be a positive for me. I don’t think it would be any different than today or my past couple matches.
Q. Is it safe to say you go out and just swing for the fences and play with no pressure, or is that too easy to say because of your age?
CATHERINE BELLIS: I don’t feel like I ever played like that. I feel like I always put pressure on myself to not necessarily win, but always to play well, play my game. That’s never been a part of my game. I don’t think I’ll do that.
Q. We know you like to play in front of a crowd. It fires you up and gives your best tennis. When that dynamic happens between player and crowd, do you feel like you’re shifting into almost a performance, or is it just that it amps you up? It’s almost like you start performing.
CATHERINE BELLIS: That’s actually a really good question. I think both a little bit. I think it puts me in like a different world. I feel like I’m not even here when I hear people like that group we were talking about. It’s surreal to me. But it’s so amazing.
I think it’s a little bit of both.
Q. Does college feel further away with another US Open main draw win?
CATHERINE BELLIS: I’m not sure. I think it’s the same for now. But, you know, we’ll see how the rest of the tournament goes for me.
Q. Do you go in really expecting to win against Angie? Is that what you put on yourself?
CATHERINE BELLIS: Oh, I mean, I definitely can’t say that, but I always want myself to play well. I always put — I wouldn’t say pressure on myself to play well, because that’s a harsh word. I think it’s more I know that I can and I know that, you know, all my hard work is going to pay off.
I think that’s more me playing well. I’m just going to focus on myself.
Q. You’ve never played Angie?
CATHERINE BELLIS: No, I have not.
Q. Did you see her on her great run at Stanford a couple years ago or on television at the Australian?
CATHERINE BELLIS: Oh, yeah. I think everyone has pretty much seen her move up the rankings in the past year. Yeah, definitely Australia. Watched her there. Yeah, great player. Unbelievable.
Q. Did you see her at Stanford in person?
CATHERINE BELLIS: Yeah.
Q. Obviously she’s really had this great arc in her career where, through hard work, she’s emerged to become No. 2. Is that something that impresses you, inspires us?
CATHERINE BELLIS: Oh, definitely. That just motivates me to work harder. I think seeing that it’s possible, you know, hard work being able to pay off I wouldn’t say this quickly because she’s always been really good, but in the past year she’s just done even better. I think that’s definitely inspiring for me, yeah.
Q. Going back to today’s match, last time you played Shelby she came out on top. Today you did. What was the difference?
CATHERINE BELLIS: I think I played a little bit better today. Obviously, like we talked about, the court surface was different. I played her on clay a couple months ago. Today was on hard court.
Yeah, I think obviously the emotions out there and everybody that was cheering for me, that really helped me, too.
Q. You were able to get a connection going with the Grandstand Court. What do you like about it?
CATHERINE BELLIS: It’s amazing. It’s so amazing. My coach and one of my friends and I, we snuck on and hit before the qualifying started. I think we might have been the first people who hit on it, I want to say. I don’t know.
But, yeah, I think we were one of the first people to hit on it. It’s so amazing. I mean, oh, my God.
Q. You said you played smarter this time around. Could you be more specific? Was it things you learned from that match or between then and now? What did you do that was more intelligent than the first time?
CATHERINE BELLIS: I think it wasn’t necessarily strategy or strategical, but I think it was just different shots and shot selection. Last time I played her it was three sets, too. It came down to — I mean, I can’t say a couple points in the last match because she beat me pretty bad in the third set.
Yeah, it was just a few shots that I think I’d — say, like she had me on the run. Say I went for a down the line in the last match; I’d go for a cross-court heavy in this match and then would end up winning that point just because I played that shot a little bit smarter this time.
Q. What are your off days looking like while you’ve been in New York? The last five or six days or so, what have you been doing?
CATHERINE BELLIS: Not very much. I’ve been pretty tired on my off days. I think tomorrow actually I have doubles, so it’s not a full off day for me.
I’ve just been hanging out with my friends that have been here, seeing them, going out for dinner, doing fun stuff. But not too much. Nothing crazy. Just kind of relaxing.
Q. In California you lost to Venus. It must have been an incredible experience to play a legend. Talk about that experience. How does that help your game?
CATHERINE BELLIS: Oh, my God, it’s helped me so much. I was just thinking about it the other day. I was talking about it with one of my friends. I’ve played both of the Williams sisters. That’s so amazing to do at my age. I’m so honored to have played against both of them.
When I played against Venus it just taught me so much about — what she’s doing at her age is unbelievable. She’s done it for so long. It’s just amazing. It taught me a lot about my game, where I could improve on certain aspects of my game.
Q. When she said those kind words about you, did that inspire you?
CATHERINE BELLIS: Yeah, for sure, definitely.
Marin Cilic
Press Conference
M. CILIC/S. Stakhovsky
6-1, 6-2, 6-3
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Three straight sets. Feel good?
MARIN CILIC: Feel good. I feel good, for sure. I played really well today from the start till the end. I didn’t have too many ups and downs in the game. I felt that I was controlling the match. I felt that I was really mixing up the game well. Came to the net several times. I was feeling good there.
Returned really, really good today. Didn’t miss many returns, so that was, I guess, very important, as Stakhovsky is a player that can be tricky. He can play, you know, even at the net well or mix it up the game with his slice.
He can be tricky obviously from the baseline, but I felt really good from the rallies. I think that was really, really, high-quality match.
Q. Was there a moment in the season where you felt it was clicking back to the level you are playing now? Seems like you are playing like when you won here.
MARIN CILIC: When I had my break in the clay court season, when I start playing back, I had a good week in Geneva. I felt I was playing well there.
Then I had a little bit of a disappointment in French Open.
Grass court season was actually pretty good. Played well in Queen’s. Played well in Wimbledon.
Actually, during the summer I was more or less playing really good. I lost matches to Karlovic and to Monfils, and so matches that I can lose anytime of the year, for sure. In both of those matches I felt that I was playing actually pretty good.
So that was giving me good confidence for the other tournaments. You know, just feeling on the court I’m playing well. When I’m feeling like that, that’s always giving me nice feedback on the court.
Q. Do you pay attention on which court you’re scheduled on? You were changed today. As a former champion, were you surprised?
MARIN CILIC: Not really. There were a lot of American players today obviously playing. It was tough with the scheduling. I think they were also trying to put me in a similar schedule as Jack so that one of us don’t play earlier in the day and the other one later. That was, I guess, a bit difficult.
I didn’t have a problem changing from Court 5 to 17. More or less it was quite enough time to get ready.
Q. What do you expect facing Jack next?
MARIN CILIC: We played in Portland few weeks ago. Over there was tough match, five-setter. Jack played really well. I was even 3-Love in the fifth and he came back and won.
Definitely expecting a tough matchup. Jack can be very dangerous on the court. He’s athletic guy. He can run down many balls. In the U.S. I guess that he plays even a bit better. He gets inspired with the crowd.
Hopefully I can keep my level of player.
Q. As a former champion here, do you feel the crowd remembers and was getting behind you today?
MARIN CILIC: Yeah, yeah, for sure. I mean, obviously they always want to have little bit of spice and excitement in the matches, so that’s always understandable. It was actually fun to see them giving support a little bit to Stakhovsky.
I felt they were giving me pretty good support and felt it was a really nice match today.
Q. Talking Davis Cup, do you think Ivo Karlovic will come back in the group? He seems to think he won’t ever get a call.
MARIN CILIC: I don’t know. I actually didn’t talk with our captain about that. Hopefully Borna recovers. He had last two weeks tough time. Pulled out in Cincy and pulled out here. It’s not easy.
I don’t know, his knee is hopefully going to get better. We’ll see with Ivo. Ivo hasn’t played already for a while for our team. It’s tricky, I guess, situation.
In one way you still want to keep the team that came to the semis and that did well so far in the season. But in the other way, obviously Ivo is playing great.
I mean, I think our captain needs to think about that a bit.
Jack Sock
Press Conference
J. SOCK/M. Zverev
6-1, 6-1, 6-2
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. What is the feeling at this point in your career of getting to the third round of a major? Is it an accomplishment? Happiness? Where do the emotions lie with the two wins?
JACK SOCK: I mean, those Grand Slams were not in singles. Obviously singles is my priority and focus.
Q. I mean two wins at a Grand Slam, two rounds.
JACK SOCK: Oh, two wins at a Grand Slam.
Yeah, I mean, a couple years ago I would have been very satisfied with that and excited to be in the third round. Not that I expect to be there, you know, dissatisfied if I’m there, but, you know, I’m 24 next month. This is my sixth or seventh US Open. I’ve played a lot of Grand Slams.
I feel like my tennis is right there to be playing in the second week. I’ve only been able to do that a couple times at the slams. For me it’s just more motivating getting through the first couple rounds, getting your feet wet at the slam.
More exciting than anything. Hopefully for me, my goal is to be playing in the second week of every slam that I’m playing now. I feel like my tennis is there. If I can just go out and keep producing, then good things will happen.
Q. Coming off of the Olympics, has it been a harder turnaround or has it differed from any other tournament versus what you’ve experienced in the past? Does it feel like there’s any hangover, moving on you’ve needed to do since Rio?
JACK SOCK: I think, if anything, it’s helped me in a lot of ways. You know, you’re satisfied in other events if you make a semi or final, in whatever, singles, doubles, whatever you’re playing well.
But there was something about the Olympics. I feel like my attitude and mentality since actually changed fairly drastically. I’ve enjoyed being out there more. Not necessarily less pressure, but I’m just having more fun out there.
I think, I don’t know, there is something about being there, being part of Team USA, bringing home a gold medal and a bronze medal. Having that, I had an unreal week at home practicing and working out. Getting healthy with my lungs, but also practicing and working out.
Came this week very, very excited. Didn’t know if I’d be tired from that or, like you said, have a little hangover, as they say, of the excitement.
But, if anything, I felt much more motivated, you know, excited to get out here since.
Q. You get a pinnacle four times a year. Some athletes get one pinnacle every four years. Did you talk to anybody about that in Rio?
JACK SOCK: Yeah. I actually became pretty good buddies with a guy on the fencing team, Miles Chamley-Watson. Lives here in NYC. Supposed to come to my match Friday night. If he doesn’t, we’re no longer friends.
I spent a long time talking to him. It is crazy being there. Obviously being a tennis player for us was massive and exciting to be there, but we also had the mentality of, for me, my biggest slam, my biggest tournament of the year in two weeks.
For every other athlete there, I think for him, he has a couple months off now. He trains and works out and gets ready for their next big competition. That’s the same with a lot of athletes there. So it is definitely different in a lot of ways.
But it was definitely interesting to get to know other athletes and kind of see their schedules and hear about what they do. But it is different for tennis players knowing that we got a Grand Slam a week and a half later.
Q. I don’t know if you got to watch Ryan Harrison today. What is your reaction in his 20th main draw in a Grand Slam, his first third round, the rollercoaster he’s been on in his career?
JACK SOCK: First of all, incredible win. Obviously Milos has been playing some insane tennis, very, very good tennis. I ran into him at Wimbledon. He was playing really well. Made finals there and is playing with confidence for a while now. That’s why he’s been in the top 10 also for a while now.
For Harry, reached top 40 at a pretty young age and has had some ups and downs. I think for myself and I think for the other American players, in general American tennis, we’re obviously ecstatic to have another guy advancing, especially a guy who works hard week in, week out and doesn’t leave anything out there.
So for him, I’m definitely happy for him to be able to get through and get another win and string them along and help him with confidence. We know he can be a top 50, top 30, top 40 player. It’s stringing those matches along, getting that confidence back. This will be a big one for him. Hopefully he can keep it going.
Q. You mentioned on the court of the fluorescent yellow outfits that some of the players are wearing. You’ve had some success. Your opponent was wearing a loud outfit. What do you think of these colors? Is this going to be a new superstition for you to wear?
JACK SOCK: I mean, not sure. We wear what we’re given. I think it’s a very cool outfit. Seeing the pictures, seeing other players playing in it, playing in it yourself, I think it looks really good.
Seems like a lot of companies have trended towards that. I think maybe because it’s New York City and there’s that electric feeling and a lot of buzz and excitement, anticipation, and I think the outfits fit perfectly with the day sessions, the night sessions. Crowds are really into it.
I think loud audiences and loud matches go with loud outfits.
Ryan Harrison
Press Conference
R. HARRISON/M. Raonic
6-7, 7-5, 7-5, 6-1
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. When did you first get a sense you were in the match? When did you start gaining confidence throughout the match?
RYAN HARRISON: I broke first at 2-All in the first set. I hit a pretty great return, was able to get an early break, and unfortunately got broken right back.
But, you know, was just really focusing on that not being a tipping point in the match where all of a sudden next thing you know he’s reeling off four, five games in a row and I’m down a set and a break before I blink.
I just was really going to focus hard on taking care of my service games as much as possible. Then the opportunities to break him are kind of few and far between when you get ’em. Whenever they did come, I was trying to play as composed and aggressively as I could.
Fortunately I was able to get that break back in the third set. It kind of was pivotal.
Q. So many ups and downs in your career. Do you sense there’s some movement again? If so, why?
RYAN HARRISON: Yeah, you know, I guess that’s a good thing, that I started so young, when I did, because we’re not sitting here having the conversation about me playing well right now and I’m 30. I’m still young. I’m 24. I’ve got a ways to go, especially with guys playing well into their 30s now.
It’s mental maturity, a little bit of stabilization with everything around me that is allowing me to play with a sense of calm and also with excitement. My personality is a very fiery one. I like to be really intense when I’m competing. Flirt with that line of getting so intense that it’s taking me away from what I was trying to accomplish out there.
It’s kind of a hard balance to work through, because I definitely went through phases where I would try to calm down so much that I lost that competitive edge and competitive fire that was my personality out there.
So right now I feel like I’m in a good emotional state where I’m competing really well. I’m not monotone, but I’m also being selective about when I get fired up.
Q. You look across the net and you see a guy same age as you. He came out of nowhere as a pro; shot up high; you’ve had all those struggles. Do you think about that?
RYAN HARRISON: Well, he is a couple years older. He’s a full two years older than me. He’s a 1990 birthday; I’m 1992. That’s not exactly the same age. We did play together in juniors. Up until 2011, 2012, we were back and forth. I played him a few times in juniors. I got him a couple times; he got me a time or two. I think we were 1-1 at the pro level. I hadn’t played him in four years.
I knew going in I was going to be in a position to be in the match. Toronto was a big one for me, because after qualifying there and having a good win the first couple rounds. I played Berdych, and after I got off the court I looked back and felt like I left a lot out there. I still only lost 4 in the third with a guy who is a top player and been in the finals of majors.
I was looking back at that match this summer and saying, I don’t need to try to do anything more than I’m capable of doing. I just need to do what I’m capable of and trust that that gives me my opportunities.
Q. What was your approach when you saw how immobilized he was?
RYAN HARRISON: It’s really hard initially, because first of all you’re a little concerned. He’s a good guy and you don’t want him to be seriously hurt. I wouldn’t say I was happy to hear that it was cramping once I heard from the chair that he was getting cramping treatments, but you’re certainly happy that it’s not like a tear in the hamstring or something like that where he’s in jeopardy of being out for a long time. I saw him fall at Wimbledon one year and had to get hip surgery. That was scary. You don’t want to see that for anybody.
Once I realized it was just the cramping, and you see a guy who’s kind of laboring out there, it becomes tough initially, especially because when I first started to pick up on it it was still him up a break in the third.
He still has arguably the most live arm on tour. His serve is not going to go away because he still has that upper body sort of strength.
It was a really important game at 4-3 there when he served in the third to break back and give myself a chance. All I was thinking once I got to the third set was I really want to make this feel like a long way back for him. If he’s not already feeling physically good, I want it to be a long way back.
I hope he recovers. I hope that his body’s all right and I hope he has a great rest of the year. He’s a good guy. I’ve always enjoyed playing him.
Q. Some of the great players generations ago, when they played years ago, they would say, I was seeing a bigger ball. Did you notice anything along those lines?
RYAN HARRISON: No. That’s the thing, you know. Everyone hits these two- or three-game patches at some point in time in matches where you’re just like, Everything I’m touching right now is going near the line and going off like a rocket.
The cool and exciting thing was that I had a great win today, and there was no point where I felt like I was red lining or playing a level that wasn’t consistent. Kind of like going back to the first question I answered, when I broke early in the first set, I got broken back, there was no panic because I didn’t feel I was playing above my level to get up the break.
That’s when I was just focused on staying the course. Lose a tight first set. Obviously a lot of people are going, you know, long, tight first set. The first couple games of the second are really important. I saved like four or five breakpoints in that first game of the second set. That was a huge hump, because you don’t want to be down a set and a break to that guy because he can just take the racquet out of your hand at times.
That was another pivotal moment. I’m sure looking back there were plenty of times where it could have gotten away from me. I’m excited that emotionally and from an execution standpoint I was able to put enough in play and be aggressive enough to take the win.
Q. Why and how do you think you achieved that stabilization you were speaking about earlier?
RYAN HARRISON: Well, you know, it didn’t start just here at the Open. I had a rough match in Newport. Was not playing well. Was kind of a mental midget out there in my match. I just was, you know, kind of like in this frame of mind. It was, Listen, you know, something’s got to change right now. I’ve got to make a commitment to do this.
I met with my family. I met with my dad, my fiancée, people close to me. Talked to them just about starting to develop sort of a series of matches in a row where emotionally I was able to be selective about when I was getting excited.
If I did get irritated, it wasn’t at the wrong times and it wasn’t taking me out of the match. It was just a decision to be resilient out there in the moment.
Now it’s two months later. If you include World TeamTennis, I played probably, I don’t know, 30 consecutive matches since then. Now you start to build that good habit where you have good memories, good things to reflect on. It’s hopefully going to be a continuous thing.
Q. Second rounds have been a roadblock for you. You’ve had rough draws along the way. Are you satisfied that you made this breakthrough against the guy who is a No. 5 seed, you didn’t get a draw that broke your way?
RYAN HARRISON: Yeah, I mean, the excitement of knowing that you didn’t get a win over — I mean, everyone’s a quality player. I don’t want to be someone who is sounding like I have an easy draw ever. But you know that a guy who just reached the finals of Wimbledon is obviously going to be a tough opponent.
It’s exciting to have a big win like this at a slam. I’m trying to approach it, you know, just like I would any other match right now. I’m trying to stay in the moment, go through my routines tomorrow, I guess the rest of tonight, like I would any other match.
Not really a whole lot of time for reflection in this sport because things change so quickly. You play a bad match on Friday, all of a sudden today the win feels a long ways away.
That’s a good thing about it. You get to go out there and it’s a new match every time you compete. So I’m looking forward to the challenge on Friday and hopefully going to be able to repeat it.
Q. Given what you went through as a 19-year-old kid, what advice would you give or have you given to guys like Fritz and Tiafoe about what they can expect or what things are going to be like for them?
RYAN HARRISON: Whenever you’re dealing with something for the first time, any new kind of emotional situation, a lot of different areas could apply to that. But everything feels like it’s a really big high and a really big low.
Whenever you hit a slump or a rough patch it feels like you’re never going to find it again. When you have a good match early in your career, you feel like you’re on cruise control early to the top.
I think it’s pretty important to say in this more kind of controlled range where you understand, like I just talked about, a good win is a good win. But everyone is going to be coming for you in the next match. Doesn’t matter who you play. They’re looking to do damage also.
When you’re down, things change really quickly. It’s a short-term sport. You have to have a short-term memory, because if you think back to the matches that you had rough matches or even exciting matches, you’re not in the moment of where you are right now.
That’s the most important thing to executing in the moment.
Q. Obviously there are a lot of positives to take away from today’s match. Looking at how it all unfolded — you got broken three times, twice he double-faulted, you ended the first set tiebreak with a double-fault — do you think this may be an area of the game you need to work on?
RYAN HARRISON: The biggest thing I need to work on on my second serve is my second-serve percentage of points won. The double-faults are not something that you want to become a problem. But if you’re winning a high percentage of second serve points, a guy like me, I go for my second serve a lot.
I’m not somebody that throws it in at 70 miles an hour in the middle of the box and it starts the point. All the times I double fault there is a lot of times where I get service winners on second serves or a short reply off of a second serve, where someone who is just spinning it in, they’re not going to be getting that benefit.
As long as I’m getting a high percentage of second serve points won I’ll continue to serve the way I’m serving. With some double-faults coming here and there that’s going to be expected, but I want to make sure that I’m always having a high percentage.
Q. Shaping up to be a really good tournament for Americans. Are you conscious of that kind of thing? Can you feed off each other’s momentum?
RYAN HARRISON: It’s cool. John, Jared, Jack and I and Stevie, we’re all within five feet of each other’s locker. We’ve been able to feel the excitement. I saw Johnson this morning when he walked in. You’re smiling for him, happy for him.
Isner was the first person I saw when I walked in the locker room. He’s excited for me. That’s the good thing about all of us guys that are playing for America right now. We all have pretty good relationships.
It’s cool. I think the winning does become contagious. It’s something where someone achieves something or someone that you’re close to has a big win. You think it’s a lot more achievable for you.
I certainly have a big belief that we’re all able to continue winning. I don’t think that we’re done right now.
Q. Good things seemed to start happening with World TeamTennis. Do you see World TeamTennis getting bigger than what it is? Did it help you?
RYAN HARRISON: There were some benefits for me from World TeamTennis, for sure. I’ve had notably some issues in the past with staying focused, not letting distractions get ahold of me when I’m playing.
When you’re playing World TeamTennis, you’ve got no ushers. You have people moving left and right. There is music in between points. You’re playing on a colored court. You’re paying lets. You can get substitutes in the middle of a match. All sorts of crazy things are happening.
All through the World TeamTennis season I had fun with it. I played at a really high level the whole time.
After the season, I was like 8-1 record. Obviously all the things I yell about when someone is moving in the stands are not that big of a deal if I decide to just focus in and block it out. Whenever you know it’s going to happen you just don’t think about it. That’s going to happen. It’s part of it.
There’s been times in my career when someone drops a ball, someone does something, and my first reaction is, What did you do? It’s not as big a deal as you think it is.
Q. You just talked about having some fun with World TeamTennis. Are you as happy as you’ve been ever with your life?
RYAN HARRISON: Yeah, this is really fun.
Q. Life is good?
RYAN HARRISON: Life is great. This will be a US Open to remember on so many different occasions. First one, being engaged. First one me and my brother both competed in. How cool is it to have him with me at the Open? We’re both playing in the main draw. We weren’t the tennis family that was just kind of like immediately at a big academy from the time we were eight, nine years old.
My dad started in a private club in Shreveport, Louisiana. Went to Newcombe’s academy. Eventually we got to Bollettieri’s academy. Talking about my dad, normal club pro, right? He’s teaching six hours, from like 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at night.
I’m getting practices with him at 9:30 at night till 11:00 as an eight-year-old, you know. So you look back at all those moments with my brother and my dad, and I know it’s a special US Open, especially with all the injuries to boot.
Q. (Question regarding qualifying.)
RYAN HARRISON: Yeah, you know, the heat, I can thank qualifying all summer for my physical fitness today. I started playing qualifying in D.C. I played qualifying in Toronto. I played obviously a lot of qualifications this year.
Just that match count of being in the heat for as many matches as I was, I certainly wasn’t feeling as tired as I would have been otherwise.
The good news about qualifying at a slam, especially the Open with the way the schedule is, you finish on Friday. You have Saturday and Sunday to recover. Whereas in other tournaments, if you qualify on Saturday,