And that men’s tennis is more attractive, that combined events are a bad idea because it’s harder to get practice court space and no one watches the women. (Here)

The ladies’ responses:

Marion Bartoli - ““Over the whole year we are a long way from winning as much as the men – only in a few tournaments and grand slams. We are fully invested as much as them. The physical demands, training, investment on a personal level, are the same as theirs. “The early rounds of men’s matches do not attract many people either. Players who really attract spectators in men’s tennis – there are only five to six.”  She also said if Gilles wants court space in Rome he should get up earlier.

Sam Stosur - ”We deserve it. I think people come out and watch us play because they want to watch us play – there are a bunch of men’s matches that go to five [sets] that are pretty boring to watch as well. It’s not like a best-of-five match is better than a best-of-three.”

Sloane Stephens - ”“Whatever he says means nothing to me. He hit me with a ball when I was ball kid for the first time. He hit me right in my chest because he lost a point and set he turned around and slammed the ball and it hit me,” Stephens told a small group of U.S. reporters. “Whatever he says, that means nothing to me. We had discussion about it on the court last year because he was trying to kick me off the practice court in Estoril and I’m like dude you don’t have this court. His coach was nice and he asked me, ‘Why don’t you like him?’ and I said because when I was 10 he hit me with the ball and he didn’t even say sorry and kind of walked off. So I was like, ‘I don’t like him.”

Kim Clijsters - To Gilles’ second round opponent, Xavier Malisse: “Kick his ass.”

Maria Sharapova - “I’m sure there are a few more people that watch my matches than his, so…”

Serena Williams - *laughs* “‘Obviously, because she’s way hotter than he is.”

Oops, Gilles. Once again, I will say tennis ladies don’t need your bullshit.