Every time you win, it diminishes the fear a little bit. You never really cancel the fear of losing; you keep challenging it.

We blacks look for leadership in men and women of such youth and inexperience, as well as poverty of education and character, that it is no wonder that we sometimes seem rudderless.... We see basketball players and pop singers as possible role models, when nothing could be further, in most cases, from their capacities.

If you're paid before you walk on the court, what's the point in playing as if your life depended on it?

If one's reputation is a possession, then of all my possessions, my reputation means most to me.

From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.

The world over - 50 million children start playing tennis, 5 million learn to play tennis, 500,000 learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5000 reach the grand slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 to semi final, 2 to the finals, when I was holding a cup I never asked GOD 'Why me?'. And today in pain I should not be asking GOD 'Why me?'

I keep sailing on in this middle passage. I am sailing into the wind and the dark. But I am doing my best to keep my boat steady and my sails full.