Anne Worcester Quotations

When I looked at the men's draw, I thought, 'This draw was much better than we ever expected to get in men's tennis the week before the grand slam'. Would we like to have Federer, Agassi and Roddick here? Of course, but it is not feasible. We have been honest from the get-go they wouldn't be here, but you can't stop people from hoping.

She's as composed and graceful and confident as I've seen in any 17 year old. But it's hard to come off that big a win and keep the momentum going. It's so much easier to get there than to maintain that level of success.

Maybe we'll have a redo of the U.S. Open final.

If this is where it (the women?s tournament field) wound up, we would be thrilled. But just think that this is just the beginning. We still have another 3 1/2 months (to sign players).

I am completely focused on accepting the things I can not change, and I can not change the weather and player injuries. But when we have the luxury and privilege of having a combined men?s and women?s tournament for the first time, and we have a Connecticut native who is on his way back up after some struggles, who brings a group of fans who give this stadium an almost-Davis Cup feel, I feel lucky. I feel grateful.

I hate that. I feel responsible for providing Pilot Pen spectators with the best entertainment we can possibly put on. But, yes, I do sweat with every single withdrawal.

He's had so many matches that I don't know if the bonus challenge will change his mind. I'm not overly optimistic.

Having our defending champion commit to the tournament this early in the year is a strong statement about what fans can expect from the 2006 Pilot Pen.

Maria losing in the first round is a classic example why no tournament should center all of publicity around one player.

Lindsay has that rare quality of really and truly being happy with herself, no matter what. Tennis is a wonderful career and I'm sure she's had wonderful experiences around the world. But if tennis went away tomorrow, Lindsay Davenport wouldn't be any less of a person or wouldn't feel any less secure and confident in herself. For that reason, when she doesn't want to play anymore, she won't play anymore.

We have always announced players as soon as they enter. We've never sat on announcements or played games.

I've watched him play at Roland Garros and watched people dance in the streets when he won. For me, personally, he is a bit of a legend. I was definitely thrilled when he entered.

It's looking not very good. I haven't received that official word. The agent thought we were holding the draw (Friday) and he didn't want to hold a wild card that could go to another player. ... A week ago Sunday they asked us to hold a wild card. Every time he won another round (in Cincinnati) it crossed my mind, but I just thought his knees must be really strong.

It was like a perfect storm of all of the things that point to the Pilot Pen becoming a mega-event.

In terms of quantity and quality, it is the strongest list of early entries the Pilot Pen has ever had on the women's side. I think that instead of being a last-minute decision about playing the week before the U.S. Open, the players who have played the Pilot Pen previously have learned that it really works for them, and therefore they work it into their schedule far in advance of the U.S. Open.

For tennis aficionados, last year?s final was the best tennis ever. But human nature is people want to see the top seeds get through. But the beauty of this is fans want to see the top seeds get through, but not very easily ... Our advance sales were down, a little, and I credit that to last year?s tournament not getting the top seeds through.