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Wimbledon 2015 best quotes: ‘I believe this bird came all the way from Belgrade to help me’

From Djokovic the unlikely ornithologist to Murray’s royal gift, Tom Peck recalls the best quotes at Wimbledon 2015

Tom Peck
Monday 13 July 2015 16:16 BST
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Dustin Brown shocked former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt
Dustin Brown shocked former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt (AP)

“You can’t even wear off‑white or cream. I was going to joke about that. I was like, man, if you wash your whites too many times, they will be illegal. Better be washing it in cold water.” Bethanie Mattek-Sands on Wimbledon’s all-white rule

“Maybe if I was British, a semi-final would be incredible. I’d be on the front page of the paper.” Maria Sharapova

“I haven’t met him yet but I have long been an admirer of his hair. Great hair.” Andy Roddick on David Beckham

“If you would like to use the house, it will be free from tomorrow.” Rafael Nadal after his shock defeat to Dustin Brown

“You want to go over and give him a high-five sometimes, but you can’t do that.” Sam Querrey on Federer’s ‘hot dog’ shot

“Don’t be sad. You’ll be holding this trophy very soon, believe me. You’re a great champ.” Serena Williams to beaten finalist Garbine Muguruza

“From where I come from, from the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, there’s a special sparrow bird called jivjum. I believe this bird came all the way from Belgrade to help me.” Novak Djokovic on the invasive Centre Court blue tit in the opening match of the tournament

Interview question to Tomas Berdych: “Do you feel your form is good going into the quarter-finals?”

The moderator: “He lost.”

Berdych: “He knows that, right. Is he making fun of me?”

“Mate, Rafa takes 30 seconds between points every time and all I’m doing is putting my socks back on.” Nick Kyrgios to umpire James Keothavong

“I just felt like a hug, I guess. Everyone now and then wants a hug.” Kyrgios on cuddling a ball boy during his fourth-round defeat to Richard Gasquet

“Thirteen, fourteen years now, [I] stay around the village. I used to stay in a bed and breakfast. I used to stay with a family, you know, just in one room. I had a flat, then a house. Last 10 years or so I had probably a house, probably not quite. As the entourage grew and the family grew, we needed bigger. The bigger it is, the more problems you have as well because you need to clean more and you need to do more things, so you need to get organised in a different way.” Roger Federer on Wimbledon domestic life

“Next question please.” Maria Sharapova, asked about on-court grunting

“It’s a portrait of my dad. I got it last year in April, I think. I’ve always wanted to have a tattoo. I have the portrait of my dad at home in my bedroom, also. I don’t get to see him that often.” Dustin Brown confirming tattooed face on his torso is not Bob Marley

"I know it’s soon after the match, but do you think it will be difficult to get ready for Davis Cup next week?"

Murray: “Well you’re French, so you’re hoping that’s the case.”

International reporter to Andy Murray after semi-final defeat

“I heard that she was coming today. I saw her briefly after the match. But the wristband actually hit the chairman of Wimbledon. He was there with her. Normally you see who catches it. Then the Duchess opened up her bag and my wristband was in there, so he obviously had given it to her.” Andy Murray sees his sweatband in the Duchess of Cornwall’s handbag

“No, I think the fans like that there is no tie-break, that it can go on and on, and they like to look who is gonna die first on the court.” Ivo Karlovic, on the possibility of a fifth‑set tie-break.

“I don’t think you’re ever going to hear nice words from him about me.” Maria Sharapova speaking about Patrick Mouratoglou, her former coach, who she outed as Serena Williams’s lover

“I really enjoyed The Book of Mormon. Being raised a Mormon, I thought it was absolutely hilarious.” CoCo Vandeweghe asked, mystifyingly, about her favourite musicals

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