Australian Open Day 3: Press Conference Snippets

Day 3 saw some of the top stars survive scares from lesser known opponents. Rafael Nadal reiterated what the commentators never seem to grasp: he loves Australia because - and not in spite of - the suffering he has endured here. Tim Smyczek's presser revealed him to be frank but gracious and generous in defeat. We learned a bit more about the row stemming from Matosevic's comments about Mauresmo's appointment. Apparently Marinko apologized to Andy, Mauresmo, and Judy shortly after the story hit the press. After yesterday's match, Andy diffused the situation completely, even going as far as calling Matosevic a "good guy." 

Meanwhile, Viktor Troicki stood firm in his stance that he was hard done by the doping system. He attempted to take responsibility in parts before deflecting blame to other parties for his one year suspension. 

When asked about his blister, Federer said, "I just wanted to have a chat with the -- what is his name -- the physio..." Sounds like Rogers wants us all to remember that he has never had need for a physio. 

Q. You've had some very grueling matches on this court over the years, some very emotional matches. What is your feeling about this place? Why does it seem to bring out those kind of matches for you?

RAFAEL NADAL: Well, I spent lot of beautiful moments in this court, but at the same time is one of the court that I really had more tough moments in my career, no? So when you suffer a lot on one court, then you love a lot the court, because I try very hard in all my career to be ready to play well here. I did lot of times, but the same time a lot of times I was in trouble. 2006 I didn't came; 2007, if I am not wrong, I had a strain against Gonzalez; 2010 I had to retire against Andy; I don't remember, but 2011 I think -- well, I finished the match, but I breaked a little bit, a strain against David Ferrer. And last year the final. 2013 I didn't came, and then the final of 2014, what happened with my back. So lot of tough moments on this court for me. But, well, I love Australia. I love the crowd. And, seriously, is one of the court that make me play with more emotions.

Q. Talk about what happened at 6-5 in the fifth when the spectator shouted. Rafa was serving. You indicated he should take another serve.

TIM SMYCZEK: I couldn't make out what he said. I don't know if the guy didn't know he was tossing the ball or not, but it clearly bothered him. You know, I thought it was the right thing to do.

Q. If you had to point to something, what is the most remarkable point of Nadal's game?

TIM SMYCZEK: Just his competitiveness. I mean, he was playing terrible. I have to be careful what I say. He was not playing well and he still found a way to just come back and hit another gear that he could tap into. It's hard to argue with how good his forehand is. It will probably go down as the best lefty forehand of all time.



Q. Do you think you've proven a point today, you and Amelie, given Marinko's comments?

ANDY MURRAY: No. I get on well with Marinko. I spoke to him a little bit about what he said. He didn't mean any harm. Everyone's entitled to their opinion on anything. If he wants to get coached by a man, that's absolutely fine. I have absolutely no issue with it at all. I still think he's a good guy. I get on well with him. I wasn't trying to prove a point at all when I was playing Marinko today. I was trying to win the match.

Q. Do you ever watch your own videos?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I really dislike doing that. I'm not a fan. But it's quite educational, at least that's what the coaches tell me. But, yeah, it's good once in a while. It's nice to see something from a different perspective because, I'm quite a stubborn individual. You see something from your own eyes on the court, but sometimes your coach, or this little camera on top shows you a different picture. It's nice to see that painting because sometimes it comes out completely different.

Q. Why don't you like watching yourself?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don't know. Sometimes I just feel like I have better things to do.

Q. Who do you think is dressing the best on court this year?

MARIA SHARAPOVA: I quite like my outfit, so...

Q. You've had some time to reflect on what happened. Do you still have any resentment about the way your case was handled?

VIKTOR TROICKI: You know what? Sometimes I see it in newspapers and some headlines it says that I refused to give a blood test. I never refused. That's what hurts me. I want everyone to know that I never refused anything. I just asked for permission and I was allowed by the doctor that day not to give a blood test. I gave urine and I have blood test the next day. It hurts me. I know that I'm innocent and I didn't do anything wrong. That hurts me obviously. And I'm being punished for following the wrong instructions. The instructions that I was given were wrong. That hurts me. I'm paying a penalty for someone else's bad instruction, but it was my fault that I didn't do it that day. At the end, I'm a player who needs to obey the rules. She was giving me instructions, wrong instructions, and she was not punished at all. So that's what hurts me. I'm over it. I mean, that's in the past. Trying to focus for the future. But it will always be a mark and I will always remember it as a bad memory.

Q. When you touched it, it was weird?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I don't know what it was. I still don't know. I just wanted to have a chat with the -- what is his name -- the physio just see what we can do. I know there is nothing we could do. I knew we couldn't tape it up because then it would be even bigger and more weird. I just said, I hope it doesn't get worse or stay like this. Actually it went away, but now I feel again. I don't know what the feeling is.