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When competing a lot and traveling, I have problems with my lower back because I'm always on the plane or sitting. That's something that does bother me from time to time, but I try to stay on top of it.
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Everyone wants to be happy - people find happiness in different ways. While you want to pursue your career 100 percent, I think it is very hard to give 100 percent in something else. It's important to find this balance, and priorities change throughout life.
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I've had to fight to improve my life. Nothing has come easily.
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I made some choices that weren't right in the past. It cost me in terms of my confidence and everything.
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Quitting is never an option.
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Ever since I was a young girl, even in school, I was always a perfectionist, and I always wanted to do my homework as soon as I got home. Everything had to be done properly.
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I think it's better not to mix professional life and personal life - although it is hard.
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I feel flattered that people like the way I look, but it doesn't help you win points.
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Tennis has opened a number of possibilities for me, and in future, it would be great to give something back.
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Fame and success and titles stay with you, but they wear out eventually. In the end, all that you are left with is your character.
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Maybe 5 or 10 minutes before going on the court, I'll do some fast feet movements or sprint, but the only problem with that is sometimes after you finish warming up, you wait to get on the court, and you end up cooling down a little. It's not always ideal, but that's why I wait until the very last moment to do all of this.
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With experience, you understand expectations, you understand consequences, but sometimes it gets a little bit hard, especially for me, that I'm a perfectionist - I want to analyse everything. And sometimes it's most important to just let go and trust your instincts. This is what I need to do more of.
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Once you are on court, it doesn't matter the way you look. It doesn't help you win points.
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When you mature, you also get more secure about yourself. You see things differently.
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I like to be alone and listen to music. Every match I play, I have a tune in my head over and over. It might only be a few words or a small piece of the tune, but it can drive you mad.
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The most important thing is always to feel comfortable - I would never sacrifice function for style.
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Even if I play backgammon with my coach, I hate to lose. I won't talk to him for, like, an hour. So imagine how it feels when you lose at tennis. That makes me determined not to lose because I hate it so much. Even at a set down and match point, I always believe I can come back.
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When you have tough times, and when you learn you can't be perfect in every situation, it's hard to accept, you know, because I still do expect that. But you just have to, because, you know, it's not about the situation. It's how you deal with it. You always have a choice.
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Pressure comes from myself, because I expect a lot, but I am trying not to put so much pressure on tournaments and to be less emotional during matches.
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Most of the coaches just tell you, 'No, no, you're doing well. This is fine.' But I actually want someone who will tell me what I didn't do right so that I can improve.
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I'm an in-control person.
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I think, in every person's life, you have ups and downs. You learn so much about yourself, sometimes even more, in the down times. Unfortunately, I had to go through it in public, which was not easy.
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I really just try to enjoy the game and hope that I can inspire young kids. I started playing tennis because of Monica Seles, and I try to promote the sport in the best possible way. Sometimes it's hard because you get upset on court, but I think in life one learns through experiences in order to evolve as a person.
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The media and press can be relentless, especially with women. Personally, while I take pride in my appearance and enjoy the compliments, when I'm on court, it is all about my game.