Wordplay: The best Fed Cup Quotes from Sunday

By Chris Oddo                                             Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

Fed Cup action was once again happening all over the globe on Sunday, and clamoring loudly at the epicenter of all that tennis activity was none other than 13-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams. Williams clinched the American victory over Belarus, but it was her quotes (and racquet-smashing) that really stole the show. In honor of her sometimes dazzling, sometimes puzzling effort today, we’ll start this edition of Wordplay with a cluster of quotes from Serena. 

“I’ve decided that was probably the worst match in general I’ve played in my whole career – and definitely the worst set by far.” – Serena Williams, giving today’s opponent, Anastasiya Yakimova of Belarus, very little credit.

 
“She has a real junk game, you know, where you just hit slice on everything.” –Serena Williams, offering her take on Anastasiya Yakimova’s game. Williams dropped the first set but went on to win in three to clinch victory for the Americans.

“I was like, you know what, can they have a pinch hitter because anyone right now is way better than me.” – Serena Williams, on her dismal first set Sunday.

“At one point I hit a forehand in the stands, and I almost walked off the court.” – Serena Williams, on her lack of focus Sunday.

“Oh my gosh, I could write 1500 words about that Serena racquet-breaking situation.” – Tennis writer Bobby Chintapalli, via Twitter.

“Serena Williams just sat down, cracked a racquet, and threw it behind her all in one move.” – Ben Rothenberg, New York Times tennis blogger, via Twitter.

“I'm in love with Madonna!” – Serena Williams, apparently no longer thinking about tennis, several hours after clinching the win for the U.S. over Belarus, via Twitter.

“We were a little bit unlucky to play the defending champs in the first round. It could have been the final easily.” – Sabine Lisicki, ruminating on what could have been after Germany was defeated by the Czech Republic in World Group play this weekend.

“Wow.” – Petra Kvitova, when told that she has now won 27 consecutive matches indoors after beating Sabine Lisicki in Stuttgart.

“I think both.” – Silvia Soler-Espinosa of Spain, when asked if it was her stellar play or Svetlana Kuznetsova’s poor play that allowed her to force a third set in their match.

“Psychologically it was a bit difficult to prepare because I was in a total rush during the warm-up.” – Nadia Petrova, commenting on the stress that Maria Sharapova’s late withdrawal caused her. Petrova was beaten 6-0, 6-3 by Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro, after being called into action two hours before the match began.

“We are from Serbia, so any reason to celebrate is always welcome in our country.” – Aleksandra Krunic, when asked if the Serbian women were going to celebrate after the match.

“It’s about winning the three points. Doesn’t matter who wins it.” – Jelena Jankovic, on being disappointed that she wasn’t able to play a larger role in Serbia’s first ever World Group victory over Belgium this weekend due to injury.

“This is…uh…amazing.” – Roberta Vinci of Italy, accurately explaining her 17-match Fed Cup winning streak.

“We won and we are happy.” – Italian Captain Corrado Barazzutti, putting his complex emotions into six simple words after Italy won a dramatic tie against the Ukraine in Biella, Italy.