"It was crazy. But at the end of the day the French media likes that kind of stuff. And I think they just want to build up...I mean the are great because at some point they invented a story without anything. To be able to create a story without any kind of beginning of a story is quite a major achievement. But I guess it will always be like this. The year before it was Razzano, the year before it was Cornet, so it's always like this."
In response to a question as to whether she wants to talk privately with Aravane to tell her things have been blown out of proportion or untrue, and a question on her relationship with the FFT:
Boom. Suck it, France.
Marion's problems with the FFT are long documented but they primarily revolve around the fact that the FFT won't let any outside coaches for Fed Cup, which means her father can't help her prepare. She explained today that she doesn't need him as her on-court coach, but she does need him to prepare for her matches. Until this is resolved, don't expect Mono to fly the flag.
As for her post-Wimbledon break, she attended her older brother's wedding in Carcassonne. It was a crazy wedding, apparently. "We finished at 5am. Everyone in the pool. Including me, of course." And she didn't go voluntarily. "They pushed me."
Towards the end of the time the conversation turned to Serena. "I heard she has a cut on her feet, right? She can play no match before the US Open and still win the US Open without dropping a set. So that's not a huge issue for her...Eh, she won Wimbledon so she can have the whole summer off. That's not a problem for her. I heard she arrived 3 days before the Championship at Wimbledon from New York and she still won it."
And on what makes Serena so tough:
"She has the serve. She can serve 4 aces and you don't touch the ball for 2, 3, 4, 5 games in a row. And that's it. When you see the Wimbledon final, Vera was in the final, for the major part of the match she didn't barely one point on return of serve against Serena.... She can serve every type of serve, everywhere in the box, with the speed she wants, and a topspin, flat, slice, so (pause) that's a weapon, yes? And she's quite intimidating when you play Serena in a match. You don't feel very comfortable, to be honest."
I feel bad because with all of these pressers, the tone can't be conveyed in a black and white quote. Marion, Sam, Elena, and Aga were totally great. Very funny, quick to laugh, very approachable and easy to talk to.
You know, if, unlike me, you had the balls to actually talk to them.
