16 Quotes by Anne Worcester

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.