“Tennis, at times, I follow, but not much.”

We need to be always prepared for every match.

Sometimes it does upset you when you lose in the finals, or even in a quarterfinal or semifinal, especially when you think, ‘Maybe I could have played better,’ or even if you gave your 100 percent, and even then, you lose.

Be it ‘Mary Kom,’ ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag,’ or ‘Dangal,’ each one was inspiring in its own way. But my favourite is ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.’

I think the coaches have to play a big role in the players’ development.

When you are injured, you need to strengthen yourself very well to make a comeback very confidently.

It is never the case that I will push myself more for the World Championships and play differently in a Super Series or vice-versa.

Ups and downs will be happening; coming to the final and losing by a point or so should not matter.

There is always scrutiny and pressure from the media. I am always told that I have to win.

I should not think that I have to win every match and what others will think; that will create extra pressure. I just have to give best on court.

I would love to act in a film if it is based on my life. But then it all depends on who is making it and how much time it would require for me to shoot.

I consider the All England as like any normal super series tournament.

The Olympic medal gave me a lot of confidence, and I went and won my first Super Series in Hong Kong. So in that regards, what Rio did was give me extra motivation and the confidence that now anything can happen.

I put the good playing and game first, and money, prizes are secondary.

I just can’t do without music.

We can’t play if we are ill or not completely fit.

I have no tension. I only play to give my best.

Those two volleys really could be the story of this match summed up at the end of it.

Working with Brando was fun. It was like a tennis match. We played unbelievably well together.

Tennis is like marrying for money. Love means nothing.

I wasn’t any good at playing tennis.

When you play sports like tennis, you’re alone, and that’s a good school for life, but it’s also a good school for life to bring your best and make those around you better, too – helping others in difficult moments.

I love to play tennis and golf, listen to music, watch baseball and root for the Redskins.

I play tennis non-obsessively. I seem to beat people I play a lot or half the time, so I guess I gravitate to people who are as bad as I am.

The choreographic process is exhausting. It happens on one’s feet after hours of work, and the energy required is roughly the equivalent of writing a novel and winning a tennis match simultaneously.