Q.) You have reached 11 doubles finals when pairing with Tara Moore, a fantastic achievement. Why do you think the partnership has been so successful for all those years?
A.) I think playing with someone consistently helps to create certain routines on how to approach the matches and decisions on court as a team. Also, being able to adjust, create certain things and believe in what you do as a team.
Q.) 12 ITF singles titles, 21 ITF doubles titles. You must look at those numbers with immense pride, what is the key to being successful in both singles and doubles consistently?
A.) It’s a great number looking back and knowing where I come from. I never had anything given to me, I made my way up mostly alone and I’ve always tried to find ways to grow as a person on and off the court. It’s not easy without having much guidance, but it got me to this level and I still feel and believe that there is more in me and so I’m trying to find productive ways: get out of comfort zones, make mistakes, learn new ways to improve myself on and off the court and just to give myself chances. I have to be the best person I can possibly be on and off the court and trying to have the right people and guidance around me when doing that.
Q.) Does your approach towards singles and doubles matches change? Which do you prefer playing?
A.) I personally love playing both for different reasons. I love singles because you are out there competing alone, finding ways and it gives you so many emotions good or bad, just trying to embrace everything out there. With doubles, it’s a nice feeling to fight as a team and share emotions with someone and it also gives you new perspectives on certain things on court playing with someone, and you can also learn a lot about yourself as a person when playing with someone else by your side.
Q.) Over the past few years, you have spent the majority of years touring and playing tennis. Are you taking this period as an opportunity to rest, or are you still training and preparing for future tournaments?
A.) I’m taking this period as an opportunity to calm down a little from the tour and from all the adrenaline, take a step back and try to put things into perspective. Also, I’m trying to find ways to improve myself during this time, reflect and think of what I really need to do to reach a higher ranking, win more titles and just do what I can to improve it during this time. I’m just taking it one day at a time, being in the moment and I think stay healthy, spreading love and being grateful for things is important during this time and we can learn also a lot from it for whenever it’s going to be over.
Q.) Who has been your favourite doubles partner so far in your career?
A.) It’s difficult to say, because each partner I played with are different kind of people. However, I have one match that brought me a lot of emotions and can share it, it was at the Fed Cup with Ylena In-Albon against the USA, we lost the tie already, but being able to play for Switzerland and share it with Ylena, that day and to win the match together with all the support of the team meant a lot and brought a lot of emotions.
Q.) Who would your dream mixed doubles partner be? Federer must be high up on the list, being Swiss yourself, or are you a Wawrinka fan?
A.) They are both amazing champions and different kind of people, they bring both so much to tennis in their own ways and to be honest either Stan or Roger winning a grand slam, it would get emotional either way haha. If we ever play a doubles match together, it will be more of the question of who is going to be on the backhand side as all three of us have a one hander haha.
Q.) Are you satisfied with your career achievements and current ranking, or do you still have ambition to play in the WTA on a regular basis and climb the rankings?
A.) I think that there is more in me, I do see the whole picture of what I achieved, but I do want to reach higher and better myself, I’m hungry for more.
Q.) If there is an aspiring tennis player reading this, what advice would you give to them?
A.) That it’s ok to fail until you can get it right, it builds you as a person and who you are.
Q.) The new crop of women players coming through are so exciting to watch, Bianca Andreescu, Jelena Ostapenko, Naomi Osaka and Sofia Kenin are already grand slam champions. Which youngster do you enjoy watching and why?
A.) Yes it’s exciting to see a new wave of players and you don’t really know what is going to happen in the grand slams. I’ve watched Bianca’s matches a lot last year and I find her path interesting and inspiring for many, also Sofia has been very inspiring lately and I would also say Belinda Bencic. On Bencic, it’s been incredible what she achieved lately and I always like to see the Swiss do well, it also gives you motivation to do more and push each other.
Thanks to Conny for the interview, we wish you the best for the rest of 2020.
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