17 Aussie Open moments: #9 The simplest of quotes

At a quirky, off-the-chain opening major to this season, records were broken, and records were extended. By the time the singles finals rolled around, the event had taken on a certain vintage, namely 2008 feel—Serena vs. Venus and Rafa vs. Roger.

Here are the highlights and lowlights among all that was seen and heard on the ground in Melbourne these past two weeks:

See No. 10 here.

9

In Aussie Open quotables, Andy Murray had this to say after his desultory loss to Mischa Zverev: "It's just tennis."

And following her collision with CoCo Vandeweghe, Angelique Kerber offered, "This is tennis."

The likes of Venus Williams, CoCo Vandeweghe and more uttered thoughtful and/or in-the-moment responses, usually when microphones were placed in front of them, that revealed more about themselves. "I'm a work in progress, I'm not perfect," Vandeweghe shrugged after blasting her way through one high-caliber victory. She was right—and many found her refreshing for exactly that reason.

Still, it was Venus who, not shockingly, created perhaps the most quotable of all statements at this Aussie. Spare a minute, or a few, to let her words sink in. (And when you're done with that, spare a few to read this *New Yorker* piece. Louisa Thomas writing about Venus will always be required reading in my book.)

Check out No. 8.