Lindsay Davenport

“I was never a prodigy.”

“I wasn't a perfect thing at 17. I didn't have confidence. I was hunched over and real embarrassed, and I didn't want to be in the limelight. But it changed over time.”

“I don't think I should be underestimated.”

“I'm not that interesting!”

“While I still have more good days than bad days, I'm going to keep playing.”

“Some times you lose more than you win. It's about handling losses and trying to turn them into positives. You get out into the big leagues and there's a period of adjustment to be made. You've got to handle it.”

“You always see people coming back to the sport, and I've always thought, 'Gosh, when you're done playing, wouldn't you just want to stay at home?'”

“We get criticized for showing no personality, then we get penalized when we do.”

“In the history of women's tennis the great players have come back from long absences with no problems.”

“I couldn't imagine being from a country where all the pressure is on a particular player.”

“I could never have gotten back into my career without the undying support of my husband, who works full time at a stressful job! We decided that we were going to do this as total partners and it is a 50/50 deal with us.”

“I've played too many tennis hours.”

“I come from a family of working women, my mum went to work two weeks after I was born - my parents had no money, there was no choice.”

“I did not grow up with people, you know, pounding in my head, 'This is what you've got to do, this is what you're going to do.'”

“I always tried to hide the fact that I was an athlete. I just wanted to be normal.”

“Tennis is more commercial these days.”

“I think I'm pretty down to earth.”

“While I was always successful... I never thought I'd be one in the world.”

“I never had tons of friends on tour. I was quiet and went about my business.”

“Nobody wants to go through divorce, especially when there's young children involved.”