Interview with a Grand Slam Winner
A Sense of Superstition
Maybe there’s a little bit of superstition to it as well. The one other time I won the Adelaide International [in 2022] I ended up making the semifinals of the Australian Open. So when I won Adelaide again this year, in my head, I was like, Oh, maybe this is good luck. Maybe we’ll see a run in Australia.
No Time for Analysis
I actually never look at the draw, so I am always kind of surprised at the end of any match about who the next opponent is. Some people like to look—I know [current World No. 6] Jessie Pegula does and knows every possible thing that could happen—but I’ve always just thought that the chances of it actually playing out how it should are so rare, why waste your time? Eventually, at some point, you figure it out, when there’s not very many people left. But in this case, I think I’m glad that I look at the draw, because that could have been a little bit daunting. Every round, I definitely gained more and more confidence, and as things went on, I felt more and more sure of myself, sure that I could be the one holding the trophy on Saturday.
Milestone Achievement
A New Perspective
I think that I finally got to the point where I felt like I didn’t need to prove myself anymore, where I was really content with what I had done. Obviously, as a professional tennis player, I was still always wanting more, always wanting to win every draw, but no longer searching for validation through winning a Slam. winning a Slam, I think, gave me the freedom to not only win one, but now really appreciate it in a way that I don’t think that I could have before.
A Sense of Belonging
I am kind of a believer that everything happens for a reason. I wish I could [reassure my younger self]but in other ways, I think going through all of the hard moments and the heartbreak got me to this point, because that was how I learned the lessons that I needed to win.
Representation Matters
A New Role Model
I think representation matters, especially as a woman of color who has been playing for as long as I have and has gone through a lot of hard times to finally—at this point in my career—get the win. Being able to be someone who a little girl can look up to and say, ‘She looks like me,’ I mean, it’s amazing.
Gratitude and Appreciation
I got a very nice note from Serena. From the first time we played, she’s been someone who has always said that she believed I could absolutely be a Grand Slam winner. And as someone who looked up to her so much growing up, that always made me feel like, ‘Okay, if she says it, then it’s got to be true.’ So finally getting one, and having all of her support and kind words, it’s definitely something that you dream of when you’re a little kid.
Conclusion
In this interview, we see that even the most experienced and accomplished individuals can have moments of self-doubt and uncertainty. But it’s clear that winning the Australian Open has given this player a new sense of confidence and freedom, and has opened up new possibilities for her in terms of what she can achieve.