Wordplay: Indian Wells Quotes on Grunting, Moonballs, and More

The he-said, she-said from the BNP Paribas Open.

By Chris Oddo

(March 18, 2013) -- Before we turn our undivided attention to this week's Sony Open in Miami, let's have a look at some of the best quotes from two weeks at Indian Wells:

1. Juan Martin del Potro, when asked if this is the best he's played since 2009.

"Four years ago, I don't remember."

2. Tomas Berdych, talking about his botched overhead that handed Rafael a decisive break in the second set of their semifinal.

"Yeah, I just got the ball straight to the sun, which was right up there, so..."

3. Roger Federer, talking about whether or not he had sought medical attention for his back.

"What's medical attention in America? No, but what is it? If I had a doctor look at it? No, I didn't have a doctor look at it."

4. Rafael Nadal, on Roger Federer's poor form due to a bad back in their quarterfinal at Indian Wells.

"The second set was strange. The second set I think Roger didn't fight as usual. Probably he had some problems and he didn't feel enough comfortable to keep fighting."

5. Tomas Berdych, on what it's like to always be chasing the big four of men's tennis.

"Well, I think I'm getting closer, but those guys are still running away, you know. I don't know how they do it, but it's really, really tough, you know."

6. Maria Kirilenko, giving her thoughts on the Indian Wells final between Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki, after she lost her semifinal to Sharapova.

"Well, I don't care anymore, you know, when I'm out of the tournament."

7. Mardy Fish, commenting on whether or not there is a chance that he will walk away from tennis.

"I don't envision that, but it certainly is possible."

8. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, on his listless performance against Djokovic in the BNP Paribas Open quarterfinals.

"I don't know how to explain that, but it was a day for me without sensation."

9. Jim Courier, when asked in a conference call if he'd like to see Sam Querrey and John Isner playing more aggressive and with more confidence.

"I'd like our guys to be more street fighters on our team. I like them to walk around with their chests out. Sam and John can absolutely bulldoze almost any player on tour if they're playing well. With the serves and forehands they possess, they have the ability to take the racquets out of their hands. It's hard for me to understand when you don't show your power."

10. Milos Raonic, on not knowing the score at the end of his round of 16 match with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

"We didn't know the score. The guy said, 'Game, set, match,' like really quick. I didn't know it was over... I thought it was 3-4 at that point. Supposed to be a screen on court. I don't follow the score.

11. Ernests Gulbis, analyzing his quarterfinal match with Rafael Nadal.

"Okay, if you want my match analysis, honestly, I think that I played better tennis. I was more aggressive. I went for my shots much more than he. But he did really incredibly well, as he always does, on important points. Just it's really tough to beat the guy, you know."

12. Sloane Stephens, on what it's like to play tennis under a media microscope.

"I don't care about all this other stuff... I mean, definitely comes with the territory... It's definitely overwhelming. But like I said, I just want to play tennis."

13. Maria Sharapova, apparently okay with the WTA ending grunting in the future, but preferably not until after her career is over.

"You know, I'm all for it, you know, if that's something that--it's one thing when you tell someone to stop doing something in the middle of someone's career when you've done it for a really long time.

It's another thing to put it in the minds of coaches and young players and juniors especially that are just starting that have a lot of time to change things, such as something in their game or their breathing technique. But, yeah, I'm all for it."

14. Caroline Wozniacki, on winning with moonballs.

"I was trying to figure out a way to win. And it doesn't really matter how, you know. It's just important to win the points basically. I felt like I got some nice points out of it, and I felt like I could go from defense to offense that way, as well."

15. Angelique Kerber, on Wozniacki's moonballs.

"I don't know. I try to play the point. Doesn't matter if it's high or if it's flat. It's a different style of game, but it's tennis."

16. Andy Murray, explaining why Carlos Berlocq's grunting bothered him during their BNP Paribas Open quarterfinal.

"You know, when it's the odd shot, but it's like sometimes silence and then it comes out of nowhere. It's a bit of a shock. So that's what I don't understand with it. To go from nothing to the loudest grunt you can do, it makes no sense."

(Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/ Corleve)