Media Day: who said what

We handpick the notable nuggets as the world's top players talk to the press

Alize Cornet, Media Day, Roland-Garros 2024©️Corinne Dubreuil / FFT

Friday marks the end of qualifying as well as media day, when the sport's top stars talk to the press about their preparation, their plans for the coming tournament and a whole lot more besides. Here are a few of the notable nuggets from today's interviews.

"Sometimes it's tough to push yourself to do the uncomfortable things which you know in the long term are better for you."

Coco Gauff on the work she's been doing to change some of the technical aspects of her game

“The idea was to give the floor to other players and coaches, to share their story and explain what they went through to become great players and to get to know the people behind the players, to show the differences in a journey.”

Caroline Garcia talks about the rationale behind her podcast Tennis Insider

"She definitely motivates me a lot to get better, and I think I improve so many things just because of her. She kind of like pointed out the things I wasn't good at, and motivated me to get better at."

Aryna Sabalenka on her rivalry with Iga Swiatek

Coco Gauff Roland-Garros 2024©️Corinne Dubreuil / FFT

"It’s always a challenge to play against her but overall, off the court, she’s one of those people who makes the locker room nice."

Iga Swiatek on her rivalry with Aryna Sabalenka

"Sometimes people forget he has a lot of talent in his hands also. We were warming up serves and then he did three in a row volley, dropshots, banana ones, like with a backspin, and it was funny. We were saying, Yeah, no talent, just hard work."

Daniil Medvedev on Rafael Nadal's work ethic

"I don’t watch draws. I try and not do draws… unless you get conned into doing it. I think it’s better not to do that and not think about that and whoever I play, I play."

Harriet Dart on the possibility that she might have been drawn against fellow Brit Katie Boulter

"I will miss playing tennis, because this is a sport that I still love after all these years. I just like to hit the ball playing tennis. It's pretty straightforward, basically."

Alize Cornet on playing in her 20th, and final, Roland-Garros

Daniil Medvedev, Media Day, Roland-Garros 2024©️Corinne Dubreuil / FFT

"It's not just having fun and pleasure on the court, but my character, my shots require that."

Ons Jabeur on playing with joy

"I consider myself lucky that I'm here, that I can still see him, in the locker room or in the players' restaurant, or seeing him practice with the passion he has, it's amazing."

Jannik Sinner on being here at Roland-Garros alongside Nadal

"The friendship started a long, long time ago when I just came on tour. It started basically by playing PlayStation together, basically. Playing FIFA together at some point during the tournament."

Alexander Zverev on his friendship with Brazilian player Marcelo Melo

Alexander Zverev, Marcelo Melo, Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2024 men's doubles©️Corinne Dubreuil / FFT