Best quotes from the Monte-Carlo Masters

Gilles Simon, after beating Viktor Troicki: “He’s a player that I know I can beat if I play well.”

Alexander Zverev, when his press conference started with a question about if he feels more Russian or German: “What a great first question.”

Zverev, on practicing in Monte-Carlo with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer: “The worst practice partner I had was Dominic Thiem this week, and he’s No. 12 in the world.”

Benoit Paire, on why he has been struggling to find his best form: “We are humans. For some players, they’re above everybody else–like Novak Djokovic.”

Gilles Simon, on playing against either Stan Wawrinka, Philipp Kohlschreiber, or Borna Coric in the third round: “There are three of them? Should I talk about the three of them? I don’t want to do this.”

David Goffin, on what his favorite surface is: “I’m good on all surfaces.”

Paire, on his physical state after beating Joao Sousa: “Physically sometimes I’m paralyzed because of the stress.”

Paire, on how hard it is to reach the top 10: “These guys are a lot better than I am mentally and physically.”

Aljaz Bedene, after losing to Rafael Nadal: “A few years ago when he was ripping his forehand, that was his best shot. But now when you press his forehand, that’s his weaker side.”

Bedene, on his own weaknesses: “My weaknesses? Oh, there are many.”

Novak Djokovic, after losing to Jiri Vesely: “There were just very few things I could take out from today’s match as a positive. I was playing really, really bad.”

Vesely, on his thoughts after beating Djokovic: “Still completely out of thinkings of what happened out there one hour ago.”

Vesely, on the best moments or memories from his career so far: “The best moment just happened.”

Reporter, to David Goffin about playing David Ferrer in the third round (Ferrer withdrew from the tournament several days earlier): “Ferrer might be your opponent in the third round. What are your thoughts?”

Andy Murray, on being told his match against Benoit Paire was a roller-coaster: “It was a big win is what it was.”

Murray, after Djokovic’s loss: “Someone like Monfils obviously will have a decent chance to have a good run here.”

Wawrinka, after beating Gilles Simon 6-1, 6-2: “On my side it was an excellent match.”

Simon, on Gael Monfils’ impressive season: “It’s good for him because he has the opportunity of having good results. Sometimes you work hard and you are unlucky, you have tough draws, you play Novak in the third round, then you might get depressed. But here, with Gael, he’s always lucky with the draw.”

Nadal, on why he faced 16 break points against Thiem: “Did you see the results of Thiem this year?”

Reporter, to Monfils after Monfils got annoyed when being told that playing against Vesely instead of Djokovic was “a very good opportunity”: “You believe our questions are disturbing?”

Monfils, on if he found the question disturbing: “No. But just help me. You always ask the same questions…. I’m trying to improve. We are trying to improve. You should improve with me.”

Federer, on Lucas Pouille: “I like him. He’s cool.”

Goffin, after losing to Marcel Granollers in straight sets: “I was dominating in the rallies.”

Wawrinka, after being told he was “doing Stan” by being so inconsistent against Nadal: “If I can ‘do Stan’ like I did during the past two years, winning titles and Grand Slams, I would sign up for it.”

Wawrinka, on losing to Nadal: “If you play against Rafa in Monte-Carlo in the quarterfinals, you’re allowed to lose those matches.”

Wawrinka, after being asked if Nadal was the favorite to win the tournament following Djokovic’s loss: “I couldn’t care less. I’m out of the tournament now. I just hope Roger will win.”

Nadal, on how he rates his game percentage-wise compared to other years: “I never was good in mathematics. I cannot know about percentages or these kinds of things.”

Tsonga, on if he agrees with Federer that Nadal was a strong favorite to win the tournament (after Djokovic lost): “Yes.”

Tsonga, on if he was surprised that Federer did not hit any aces in three sets: “Well, that’s because of my return…my fabulous return.”

Monfils, on how he felt physically after beating Granollers: “I was able to play this tournament, so that’s cool.”

Murray, after being told it seemed like he went away mentally against Nadal: “I think it’s harsh to say that.”

Nadal, on not wanting to talk about if he is “back” or not: “I am what I am.”

Tsonga, on the Nadal-Monfils final: “It’s going to be a tennis match. And in a tennis match, anything can happen.”

Jamie Murray, after losing the doubles final when asked how good Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert are: “I served awful.”

Bruno Soares, on playing a tiebreaker for the third set: “It’s a penalty kick. Flipping a coin.”

Monfils, on the third set against Nadal: “When the other player is the best, you have to recognize it.”

Nadal, after winning the title: “I am enjoying emotionally.”