Quotes of the day

It was a big honour to be asked.
Andre Agassi on being invited to play the first match on Centre Court yesterday in place of the injured men's singles champion Goran Ivanisevic.

Wimbledon is the greatest tournament in the world. If you could only win one, you would be crazy not to pick this one.
Agassi explains why it meant so much to him.

I really want to win this tournament because Venus has won it two years in a row, and to see those plates in our trophy area, I want one of those with my name on it. To hold that plate with all the history behind it, I would just love to do that.
Serena Williams talks of her desire to follow in her sister's footsteps.

If I was not 100 per cent committed to playing I would not be here, I would just go and do other things. I'm working hard and sooner or later it will start to come together.
Russia's Anna Kournikova remains positive despite her first-round defeat yesterday.

I'm not involved in 99 per cent of the stuff everybody says I am. I had time to think last year when I was injured and I had time to grow up. I am still learning, only I am doing it in front of everybody.
Kournikova on the demands of being in the public eye.

People come to tennis and they don't want to see just a good game, but also a good show, and they want to have good entertainment. Maybe that is what they see when they come to watch me.
The 'new Kournikova', Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova, offers an explanation as to the sudden media interest in her.

The biggest psychological advantage for me is the support. The atmosphere at my matches is second to none and that has got me through tight fifth sets and puts pressure on my opponents.
Tim Henman on the Wimbledon crowd.

It is heartbreaking, I'm absolutely devastated.
Briton's James Auckland after having to withdraw one hour ahead of his Wimbledon debut because of injury.