- There is now a new generation of WTA-players such as Kvitova, Azarenka, Wozniacki. And you are quite more experienced than them. Can you say that despite your very young age you think of yourself as a veteran? Who do you get on better with – new girls or established stars?
– I don’t feel like a veteran at all! But it’s true that I am somewhere in between the younger players and the older generation. My best friends are my age, or maybe even a little bit younger: I hang out with Sorana Cirstea and Sofia Arvidsson whenever we play the same tournaments.
- Is there any division between generations?
– I wouldn’t say there is any division between the generations. For example, Wozniacki and Serena are good friends. Although in general there isn’t huge friendship, we talk to each other no matter what the ages.
- After your decline there were a lot of people who lost faith in you. What made you keep going, keep trying when almost everybody thought you were done?
– I didn’t feel that. I was surrounded by people who believed in me, and more importantly I always believed in myself. I have only just turned 24, so I have many years ahead of me and my motivation has always been there. I am an extremely competitive person and I have a lot left to achieve. It’s hard to answer this question, because in my mind there was never any alternative: of course I keep going.
- You date a golf-player now. Do you and Adam have much time to see each other, giving the busy schedules of both of you? Maybe there is something common in golf and tennis what helps you to understand each other better?
– We definitely understand each other very well, not only because we have a lot in common as individuals, but because we are both professional athletes. We don’t get to see each other as much as we would like, because of our schedules, but the time we spend together is special.
– Do you think there is a sort of rivalry between your golf/tennis couple and Caro/Rory couple? There are some speculations about that.
– We don’t have any rivalry with anyone! That is a strange idea.
– They say that Tiger Woods is kind of Roger Federer of golf. Who of the tennis players can you compare Adam to?
- It’s very hard to compare Adam to a tennis player. Actually, as athletes we are a little bit proud, and hate to be compared to others. So I’d better not annoy him by doing that!
- When was the last time you cried?
The last time I cried was probably on my birthday, when I spoke to my brother, because I miss him very much. He’s studying at university in England and I was in Bali for a tournament.
- What can make you burst into laughing?
I laugh every day. I have a lot of fun with my coaches. We don’t take things too seriously, and we all laugh at each other. The movie that makes me laugh perhaps more than any is The Hangover. I’ve seen it so many times.
- Have you ever thought of having kids? If yes, would you prefer a boy or a girl? Would you like to have a big family?
– Yes, I would love to have a big family, with at least three kids. Becoming a mother is important to me. But I am not planning on doing that anytime soon. That will be for after my career, when I have retired.
