This is the first club I ever played at, almost so long ago I can’t remember. Every summer, they did an event called Hot Dog Doubles. Basically a mixed doubles competition. And afterwards, we all got hot dogs. The best part of the year. The people here are very friendly as well, very warm. And I love coming back here, because everyone knew me from when I was a kid, before I achieved anything.

My dad wanted me to try a little bit of everything. Tap dance, horseback riding, golf, basketball, go-karts, motocross. I really enjoyed horseback riding. The horse I rode was pretty chill. We didn’t get too far over the course of a half-hour lesson! Out of everything, I showed the most promise with tennis. It almost seemed like everything else was preparation for this. Touring and playing in international competitions has given me a sense of accomplishment and broadened my horizons.

I did. Traveling has been the greatest lesson I could ask for. I get to interact with all kinds of people, expanding my world view. Tennis also taught me how to control myself and overcome anxiety.

I was a bit stunned myself, since I was eighteen at the time. I’m not sure I fully understood the way this fit in with the Grand Slam. It’s led to more chances and connections than I could ever have imagined. It’s like a dream, though the expectations and the judgment have got more and more intense. At times it’s been a heavy load. I’ve learned all kinds of things and I’m much stronger than before. I’m still growing, of course. I guess you could say I’ve gained the power to face whatever’s coming next.

It’s hard to think positive all the time, but when things get tough, you have to do your best and focus on the point in front of you. Forget what’s happened. Just think about the next thing. That’s the only way to change things. I think about this all the time.

I always rest up after playing. That’s essential if I want to do my best at the next match. I also make sure to switch things up. I might go for a walk, or read a book, or do some journaling. Sometimes I’ll visit a museum. I’m on tour for tennis about thirty-five weeks per year, so I put effort into building good relationships with the people who surround me. A strong support network is based on connection.

I recently read former tennis player Andre Agassi’s autobiography Open and Matt Haig’s novel The Midnight Library. Open describes what Agassi was up to and how he built his career in startling detail. I was especially intrigued by the passage where he got out of his slump in the late 1990s by creating his own training regimen and finding his way back to the top. It speaks in depth about his early successes, and the lows he reached perhaps as a result of them. A lot of it was so relatable. The Midnight Library is the story of a woman mired in regret who gets the chance to go back and try out a different path, only to find that this other choice may not necessarily be the better one. I don’t read just fiction or nonfiction, I read all kinds of books.

Finding new restaurants! I like checking reviews on Google for spots that aren’t so widely known yet. I guess you could call me a gourmet. I’m really confident about my skills.

Everyone in London knows UNIQLO of course. Yet the overall impression is of comfortable, practical essentials. Not enough people realize how stylish a brand it is. Clare Waight Keller, who designs my uniforms, creates collections that draw from all her experiences and ideas. It’s really amazing.