Australian Open Day 2: Press Conference Snippets

Below are a few of the more memorable bits from yesterday's press conferences at the Australian Open. Although the WTA has moved on from last year's "Strong Is Beautiful" campaign, Serena Williams seems to have adopted it in her plans for her Nike outfits for 2015. She'll be featuring her back more in her dress designs as a symbol of power in her game and women's tennis. Venus Williams wasn't willing to talk much about her health issues, saying that all the players have their own issues to deal with. If you were hoping to get some insight into what Martina Navratilova brings to the Radwanska pairing, you're out of luck. Radwanska spoke in generalities when asked about it; perhaps she's not sure herself just yet? Neither Caroline nor Vika felt sorry for themselves having to play each other so early in the tournament, and Petra Kvitova pointed out that she faced a similar scenario when she played Venus in the Wimbledon third round last year; the overall sentiment is that these matches are a testament to the depth of the women's game and the winner will be better for it  

Q. Did you want to do something more adventurous compared to when you were a teenager? Sort of a bold look?

SERENA WILLIAMS: I've been more focused on different parts of the body. Throughout the years we went for a more conservative look. This year we really wanted to bring out a powerful woman and a strong woman, like I said. You can be beautiful and powerful at the same time. So what we at Nike wanted to do was to focus on beautiful back. So kind of a lot of my outfits this year are really based on the beauty of and the shape of the back, which a lot of people don't think about. But it's so beautiful and powerful on ladies, so we just wanted to focus on that.

Q. What was the most pleasing thing about that?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Just getting the four points, getting the win. It's always tough any Grand Slam, especially early on in tournaments, especially the start of the year, more so playing at home in your home Grand Slam......... 

Q. It's been well-documented you've had a few health issues the last couple of years. You seem to have got back into the higher echelons of the game a bit under the radar. Are you feeling very healthy, very good in yourself right now?

VENUS WILLIAMS: You know, I got issues, but so do a lot of people. Everyone has different kind of issues. I deal with my own the best way that I can. I'm creeping closer. I did enter the top 20. But I had some issues. Now I'm back again. I'd like to think that moving forward I have a lot of good days ahead of me in terms of health. I think also learning to manage things, because it's a mental challenge when you don't feel well and I think I'm learning to manage that a lot better.

Q. Is there anything she said to you yet that has made you realize why you've brought her in? Any particular sort of story or experience she shared with you?

AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: Well, we been working already on couple things on court. We really focus on that. So we'll see if that going to help. So far it's really going a good way. Well, also talking off the court about a lot of things. I think, you know, altogether hopefully one day I can do it.

Q. Nadal say he doesn't feel ready to win. Do you think he's trying to reduce the pressure on him by saying so?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, I don't know what his intentions are, how he feels. But he is definitely always one of the top favorites in every tournament that he plays. There is no question about it. We always talk prior to the big tournaments, during the first days of the Grand Slams, about who the potential players are for winning the trophy. You know, more or less the same names have been going around for the last seven or eight years. So I don't think there is any difference in terms of main favorites for this tournament even this year in the Australian Open. There are a few other players that are able to challenge the best.

Q. Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka have to play each other in the second round. How hard is it when the draw aligns like that? Is that something you look forward to?

PETRA KVITOVA: I had this in third round at Wimbledon when I played Venus. Of course, third round, it's difficult to play Venus, former champion there. Was really tough match. I was really nervous before it. I knew it's going to be really tough, tough, tough match. Same as Caroline with Vika. But it's the draw. Of course, when you're not seeded, it's difficult. Some of us should play her.

Q. If you could have changed one thing in your career, what would that have been?

LI NA: I think I'm perfect for the life. I wouldn't change anything.

Q. We have to create a little dissension in the Canadian camp. Miss Bouchard said last night she thought you were a little too obsessed with your hair.

MILOS RAONIC: Next question, really.

Q. Do you have any comment on her hair?

MILOS RAONIC: I'm not going to get into this (smiling). Thank you.

Q. Do you think your friendship with Serena the last few months has taught you anything about competing against a friend at the highest level?

CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I think quite a few of the girls that are on tour, we used to play with in the juniors. We were friends back then. We've been competing, playing against each other all the way through the ranks here. I think whenever you play on tour, whenever you're on court, you just want to win, doesn't matter who is on the other side.