During a tournament, I'm not thinking about mechanics at all. I'm in scoring mode.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
When you start off a new tournament, you want to do well.
When I play in a tournament, sometimes I'm feeling tired and don't want to play in the tournament. I don't want to lose.
When I'm playing my best, like I was at the U.S. Open, I feel on top of the match and able to do exactly what I want. There are other times when you're not in control, but that is tennis and you have momentum changes in every single match.
I've realised over the years I play my best when I have time to prepare for each tournament as best as possible.
I hate to play a tournament in which I'm not contending. It's just not any fun for me.
I'm content. I want to have better success in the tournaments than I've had, but I know I'm playing well, so I'm happy with that.
I like to keep myself physically and mentally fit before any important match. I usually take a short nap just before the game and do not practice immediately before the tournament.
If you go into a tournament thinking that you're not going to do anything, you might as well not be there because you won't achieve anything.
You don't win tournaments by playing well and thinking poorly.
For me, sometimes it's more important to perform well in training and know that I am improving rather than scoring in a game. It's doing the hard work, day in, day out.