I'm amazed that years after I stopped playing tennis, people still recognize me in restaurants and ask for my autograph.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Even though now I'm pretty popular in my country and tennis is the No. 1 sport, and I'm very flattered that the people recognise me and come up and give me compliments, I'm more a person who likes to have privacy and peace.
Tennis helped give me an identity and made me feel like somebody.
To be honest, I still feel like I haven't scratched the surface of where I want to be. If someone asked me for an autograph, I'd be like, 'Me? I haven't done anything yet !' I have much more to offer the world.
The fact that people actually want my autograph is crazy.
Tennis is an individual sport, and I am quite a self-conscious person.
I never refused an autograph, never refused to buy someone a drink. Now I'm learning to say I've got other things on, instead of doing it and wondering why.
I always signed autographs when I could and always stayed and chatted with them when I could.
I never wanted to take autographs, always wanted to give them. To do this, you have to achieve something.
I don't want to be remembered for my tennis accomplishments.
It's very rare that I get stopped or get asked for an autograph or anything - none of which I mind - but people don't really care that much.