Q.) You come from Bradford, Yorkshire. What made you start playing tennis? And was there a specific player that you watched and made you want to pursue a career in the sport?
A.) I originally started playing tennis because my dad was looking for a safe way to get rid of my siblings and I for the summer, while my parents worked. I had no intention of being apart of sport in general. I was always the academic kid, who loved Cadbury‘s a little too much! In fact, I continued with tennis after the summer camp because it was a good way to keep me active as a child, and the head coach at the club where I began my journey (Heaton Tennis Club in Bradford) recommended I take up tennis a couple of times a week, as I was apparently quite decent – mainly due to my extreme competitiveness! As a child, my inspirations were Rafa and Serena – their mentalities always fascinated me, I think I found their “no limits” attitude relatable. Mauresmo was my favourite player to watch, I loved her style and effortless play.
Q.) You moved to the tennis academy in Barcelona aged nine, what was the reasoning behind that move and how did you benefit from it?
A.) When I started to play tennis on a more regular basis, my doctor told me I wouldn’t be able to pursue a career in tennis because of my EEC syndrome. This was the ultimate drive for giving up my life in the UK, and dedicating my childhood to the sport, as I did not want to be limited by anyone or anything. Spain and the US are the two renowned countries for tennis academies looking to produce professional tennis players. So I did trials at multiple academies in Spain, as we felt the US was too far away at the time, and I decided Barcelona was where I wanted to settle down. I moved just before my 10th birthday; the decision was purely based on tennis, and at the time what we considered was the best for my future in the sport. I have no regrets.
Q.) Your junior career was interrupted due to surgeries, now you have won two ITF titles. To do that, you must have immense mental strength and belief in yourself, how did you use the breaks as positives?
A.) Injuries are never positives. However, I took solace in the fact that all my surgeries were related to my syndrome, and were not due to poor physicality – although I have never been a natural athlete. Due to the latter point, we took advantage to work on other aspects of my fitness where we could, under numerous restrictions. I suppose the mental strength you mention is a consequence of having to return to competitive tennis after multiple stints on the sidelines.
Q.) In 2019, you competed at Wimbledon, that must have been a special experience and something that inspires you for the future?
A.) I have competed at Wimbledon for a good few years now, both juniors and womens. Each year I believe there is a significant difference in my level and performance. Unfortunately I fell short last year. Of course it is a privilege to compete at the Championships but I am not in it to claim a “participants medal”, that isn’t the benchmark. I strive for much more than that, and hopefully will fulfil these aspirations in the years to come.
Q.) Two ITF title wins in Minsk last year. How much does winning titles help your confidence and drive?
A.) Winning titles obviously is a big confidence booster. However, I am a believer that titles are won in the training weeks prior to the competition itself, by putting money in the bank with high quality training, which eventually pays off. Of course you have to be capable of bringing the right attitude to the match court, but that is something I thankfully have never found tough. I need to keep accumulating hard training weeks, and consecutive matches/tournaments. I haven’t managed to build momentum in previous years, due to injuries, which is a shame, but it is something I definitely will be aiming for in the upcoming seasons.
Q.) Looking back now, how do you reflect on your 2019 season?
A.) I started 2019 slowly, my pre-season was hindered by injury and illness so I was ill-prepared for the season. I had employed a new fitness coach in February, and he travelled to all tournaments with me for the first three months of our partnership. As I have already stated, I am not a natural athlete, and have been dealt a different set of cards than most. My priority last year was physicality; building a body that could cope with high level performance.
My results at the start of the year were affected by my decision to prioritise my fitness and my long term view. I tried to maintain calm and believe in the objective my coaches and I had agreed upon. Eventually it started to pay off and I won the titles in Minsk which turned my season around. I started to build some momentum but unfortunately picked up a niggle. I was referred to a doctor in Spain, and regrettably received poor medical advice which lead to my season ending far too early. This was disappointing and frustrating as the niggle was originally very minor. The situation was however out of my control and I did my upmost best to maintain a calm outlook and build for the 2020 season.
Q.) With the Coronavirus pandemic on-going, we are unsure when tennis will resume. However, do you have set targets for the next 12-18 months in terms of titles and rankings, or do you just take each match as it comes and let the rest take care of itself?
A.) I love challenges, so of course my team and I set out some ranking and non-ranking objectives in pre-season. My objective for this season was to reach a ranking that would get me into Aussie Open qualies 2021. I do try not to become too involved with objectives, although this can prove tough at times, especially because I have high expectations of myself. I do believe sticking to the process is key, and “the rest will take care of itself”. We definitely maintain a long-term view, so I can sustain my level at the highest end of the game.
Q.) 11 different women have won grand slam titles since 2017. The consistency and level of matches we get on the WTA is reaching crazy heights, every tournament is wide-open, but is there a player you think could dictate for a spell of time?
A.) I don’t think there will be a clear dominance in womens tennis from here onwards. Serena’s case is very special, however the sport has evolved both physically and mentally. There are talented players breaking through at many different ages, and every woman wants a piece of the cake. If Serena’s career would have been cut short, I believe we would have seen this inconsistency sooner, but her persistence has been phenomenal.
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.) My favourite player on tour is Ashleigh Barty. Her style of play is unique to many of the big-hitters. The variety and all-court dominance she shows is second-to-none. Ash is also very highly regarded as a human being, and that is something that should not be overlooked, as it is easy to lose sight of your values when you reach a certain level. I also have huge respect for Simona Halep. She has faced adversity in her life so far, but has continued to make headway and her mentality deserves recognition.
Big thanks to Fran for the interview, follow her on Instagram to track her progress!
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