It may feel like players leave everything they have out on center court, but sometimes the action continues behind the scenes. After a long match, the interview room can make for an exciting encore to an action-filled match. The 2011 US Open press conferences were no exception. Here is a look back at player insights, opinions, jokes, fashion advice and everything in between.

Although most players try to maintain composure and professionalism in the interview room, some prefer to keep the questioning light-hearted. Regardless of intention, moments of hilarity ensued.

I try not to feel my juices ever, Bill.  (Laughter.)  But I appreciate your interest in them.
Andy Roddick -- When asked if he could feel his juices more intensely when playing on a smaller court

Well, it was great to have [Diddy] there.  We met at one party that I cannot talk about details.
Novak Djokovic -- When asked about Diddy cheering him on in the seminfials

Um... I would probably take a bottle of wine and go up to the highest seat of Ashe. I would probably take up some French, heavy wine. So your head gets all, you know... foggy. I think wine without food is good to get wasted. How romantic of me, huh? Very romantic. But I think that's what I would want to do.
Andrea Petkovic -- When asked how she would spend a romantic day if she had to do it at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

I think [I went through] maybe like six or so [shirts].  But, yeah, I'm a sweater.
John Isner -- When asked about how many times he changed his shirt during a match

I love McDonald's, I really do, but I'm not going to be able to eat it.  I always have leftovers.  I'm leftover queen.
Serena Williams -- When asked what she will eat for dinner after a late-night, first-round match

Well, I guess when you get bad advice it comes in here, it goes out there.  So you don't remember.
Caroline Wozniacki -- When asked about the worst advice her parents ever gave her

You like [my dance]? No, it’s not like Petko dance. Petko [Andrea Petkovic] had already marked her dance. I have to invent a name for mine.
Novak Djokovic -- When asked about the dance he did after winning his third-round match

At least there wasn't a baby crying on the fence.
Andy Roddick -- When asked about various distractions in the crowd during his fourth-round match

My game, you know, is very good when I have nothing in my head, when I just play my game, when I don't think about other things, like the wind, people in the box (smiling), all this stuff, the photographers.  Sometimes it's tough for me, you know, the click.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga -- Elaborating on what he meant when he said he was “strong in the head”

I'm more of a don't-forget-the-lyrics-kind-of-show girl.  Maybe I should go on one of those shows.
Serena Williams -- After being asked if she would ever do a reality show

I didn't have a lot of fun today, no.  But it's early (Laughter.)
Andy Roddick -- When asked if he had any fun during his quarterfinal match (which he lost to Rafael Nadal)

One of the biggest topics of conversation, besides tennis, of course, seemed to be player fashion. Unlike Wimbledon, in which the players are required to wear all white, the US Open lends itself to a very diverse selection of athletic wear. Coinciding with New York’s Fashion Week, both the players and the reporters seemed eager to discuss the hot topic.

As far as the hat, when I first did it, it was an accident.  People liked it.  It's really not necessarily  --  you know, at one time it was really extreme.  But now I feel like I'm putting it on straight, but I guess I move it a little to the left.
Donald Young -- Explaining why he wears his hat sideways

I'm obsessed with nail polish.  Yesterday I was so frustrated.  I had this pink nail polish on, and I took it off because it was chipping obviously.  I put this other pink one on.  I was like, this is disgusting.  So I took it off, and I'm like going to go back to what I know.  This is gold.  This is the best nail job I ever painted and look what happened.
Sloane Stephens -- After a reporter commented on her nail polish color

Yeah, I mean, normally I'm just [wearing] the whites and blues.  I think it was all right, yeah.
Andy Murray -- When asked about the red shirt he wore during his first-round match

Yeah, actually I'm going to come back for Fashion Week.  I'm excited about that.  I'm not going to be here for tennis.  I'll do something else.
Victoria Azarenka -- When asked what she will be doing next off the court

I always go out wearing either shoes that cover all my foot or most of it.  I'm serious.
Serena Williams -- Commenting on what she learned from her foot injury, in which she stepped on a piece of broken glass last year

What do I like most about Venus?  She's beautiful.  I like how she's willing to take risks with her outfits.  That's definitely something that most players won't do, so that's a step up.
Sloane Stephens -- When asked what she liked about Venus Williams

No, but this line of adidas is awesome.  They're my favorite colors.
Jack Sock -- When asked if he chose his shirt colors because they are Husker colors


The US Open is a unique Grand Slam in any number ways, but the true personality of the tournament is a product of the New York atmosphere. Players cannot help but notice the crowd’s influence over a match.

But New York crowd, especially in the night matches, is very special.  You know, they really get involved.  They have a lot of fun.  They're very loud.  A lot of music in the changeovers.  It's different from other Grand Slams.
Novak Djokovic -- How the New York crowd compares to other Grand Slam crowds
 
[The fan support was] everything.  I was kind of tired like midway through the third, fourth set.  They were chanting my name, which is great, kind of like baseball chants.  Yeah, you know, just reminded me and made me feel great that all these people really wanted me to win here.  I don't know.  It just pushed me through.  I can't describe how great it was.
Donald Young -- Commenting on the crowd support during his second-round match

The fans are a big part of this show.
Rafael Nadal -- Commenting on the importance of the crowd at a Grand Slam tournament

Surprisingly, when I was a kid, I really didn't [like New York].  I don't know why I didn't like States.  I didn't like playing here, you know.  But then the older I am, I really enjoying being in United States and playing tournaments.
Janko Tipsarevic -- Commenting on the atmosphere in New York

You know, the U.S. is a big country, so, you know, I'm still... I'm sure that I can still gain a lot of fans here.
Caroline Wozniacki -- About gaining popularity with fans in the U.S.

The Grandstand is a beautiful stadium.  We are pretty close to the fans, and we can hear every words from there.
Juan Martin del Potro -- When asked about playing the first match of the day on the Grandstand Court.


Aside from the jokes, style choices and love of the Big Apple, there was also insightful and serious discussion of tennis, as well.

I have beaten all odds.  You know, six months ago I was in the hospital, and now I'm in the final.  So I feel like regardless of a result, I have just, you know, have been a champion for everyone out there who is fighting against all odds, and, you know, staying positive.
Serena Williams -- When asked if she was nervous for her championship match

The problem is we [the players] don't have enough power in these kind of tournaments.  That's what have to change very soon.
Rafael Nadal -- In response to playing in poor, and arguably unsafe, weather conditions

Losing isn't fun for anyone because we work to win.  We don't work to try to lose.
Maria Sharapova -- Describing her disappointment after losing to Flavia Pennetta in the third round

And to be honest with you, I even have more motivation to play and to win more Grand Slams -- now more than ever that I know that I can actually, you know, perform equally well on any surface, that I have equal chances on any Grand Slam that I play. So this is something that gives me a lot of desire to come back to the game.
Novak Djokovic -- After being asked about his Wimbledon win and No. 1 ranking

I mean, if you want to judge someone's whole career based purely on Slams, I would have had a terrible career.
Andy Murray -- In response to the comment ‘Andy Murray, the best player to never with a Slam’

• Caroline Wozniacki Bio
• Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Bio
• Maria Sharapova Bio
• Andy Roddick Bio
• Andrea Petkovic Bio
• Novak Djokovic Bio