By Chris Oddo

Photo Credit: Mike Hewitt/ Getty

(June 11, 2012)—It has been a magnificent two weeks of tennis in Paris—trés magnifique, as they say in the city of lights—and to celebrate that fact we’d like to invite you to join us in taking a look back at the best quotes of the fortnight.

Kings and Queens: They are champions on the court, but also Maria Sharapova and Rafael Nadal are champions in the press room. Here’s a few clips of their juiciest quips:

“I thought that when I won Wimbledon at 17, I thought that would be the most treasured moment of my career. But when I fell down on my knees today I realized that this was extremely special, and even more so.” – Maria Sharapova, after winning the career Grand Slam with a commanding performance in the final against Sara Errani.

“I don't believe in perfection, no?  I really don't like to talk about perfection, because that, my opinion, doesn't exist.  You can play always better.” – Rafael Nadal, keeping his nose to the grindstone and his eyes on the prize, after dismantling David Ferrer in the semifinals.

And just for good measure--they are the champs after all--let’s hear from each champion once more:

“I had so many outs in my career.  I could have said, I don't need this.  I have money; I have fame; I have victories; I have Grand Slams.  But when your love for something is bigger than all those things, you continue to keep getting up in the morning when it's freezing outside, when you know that it can be the most difficult day, when nothing is working, when you feel like the belief sometimes isn't there from the outside world, and you seem so small.” – Maria Sharapova. Geez, do I hear an inspirational self-help/ autobiography coming? Some truly inspirational words from Maria, and for those who watched her improve day by day, inch by inch, after returning from shoulder surgery, you know she’s not exaggerating one bit.

"I eat chocolates everyday...yes, sometimes I eat too much chocolate." – Rafael Nadal, talking about what he did on his 26th birthday. Really? Imagine how good Nadal could be on clay if he’d only lay off the chocolates!

The Crazies: Well, as we know, everybody but the eventual champions go home a loser in a Grand Slam. At this year’s French Open, some players handled their demise better than others.

"I'm gonna kill myself." – Victoria Azarenka, when asked by a journalist what she was going to do to recover from her loss to Dominika Cibulkova in the fourth round. Yowza. Maybe Azarenka hasn’t really matured that much after all. If this is a true indication of where her head is at right now, it could be a very short Wimbledon for the world No. 2.

“Shut Up!!!!” – Roger Federer truly appreciates the support that the French has always given him over the years at Roland Garros – just not that much, and especially not when the genius needs to concentrate.

“I just felt I couldn't get a ball in play.  You know, when I did  I just felt like I was hitting late and, I mean, how can you hit late on a clay court?  It was kind of odd.” – Serena Williams, on her head-scratching loss to Virginie Razzano in round one.

“You know, it's so hard if you can't win any points.” – Richard Gasquet, stating the most obvious of facts after Andy Murray came back from a set down to beat him in the fourth round.

"He's serving well...did you see the match?" -- Nicolas Almagro after a reporter asked him the same question about Rafa's serve (is he serving better than ever?) twice.

The Sweethearts: Roland Garros was full of happy stories. Here’s a few quotes that bring to light that fact:

“I’m playing against Roger, and I can’t believe it. When I was young I had a lot of pictures in my bedroom of him.” – David Goffin, in a near whisper, unabashedly explaining to the press just how much he used to admire Roger Federer.  

“All night and this morning I thought about what I would do, how I would play, and if I would win or not. And then when I won the last point, I felt…I felt…I felt free.” Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, proving that his game isn’t the only thing that is poetic about him as he discussed beating Stan Wawrinka in the fourth round.

"I was so lucky to live this for a number of years." -- Arnaud Clement, on playing his fifteenth and final Roland Garros.

“I am disappointed that I lost of course, I thought I could get this match into the fifth set.” – Novak Djokovic, on feeling the sting of falling one match short of the career Grand Slam and becoming the first player since 1969 to hold all four Grand Slams at the same time.