It was very hard for me to practice and enjoy my tennis, and I didn't know the why, so I worked with psychologists to try and see what was happening. They pushed me really hard.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
Tennis is a psychological sport, you have to keep a clear head. That is why I stopped playing.
Later, I discovered there was a lot of work to being good in tennis.
With everything else that would swirl around me when I got involved in it, tennis was my main concern.
I was very, very shy as a younger girl, just petrified of people. Tennis helped give me an identity and made me feel like somebody.
I was so horrifically bad at tennis.
Tennis was never work for me, tennis was fun. And the tougher the battle and the longer the match, the more fun I had.
Tennis is a big puzzle. It's not any more physical or mental; you have to have all the pieces first, and then you have to put all the pieces together. For me, it took me time.
Tennis is all about mental toughness, and you have to keep your head in the game. I make time to relax away from competition pressures, travel and intense training schedules to make sure I'm looking after myself. Taking time out with family and friends helps to maintain the work-life balance everyone needs.
Tennis helped give me an identity and made me feel like somebody.
I just try to stay positive and focused on the tennis, not let anything get to me, like crazy questions. But I'm tough, let me tell you, tough as nails.