The ManicaPost
THE first round of a Grand Slam is always tricky, but I am glad to get through it. My first-round match against Illya Marchenko, the world number 95, was OK but it was hard going.
It was tough conditions. The on-court temperature was in the high 30s, which wasn’t easy.
I didn’t feel any extra pressure playing my first Grand Slam as the world number one. I felt nervous beforehand, but I get that before all Slams.
I always feel that bit of extra nerves and bit of extra pressure because these are the tournaments that often you work towards. They’re the biggest tournament for tennis players. It would be a bad sign if you weren’t coming in nervous so I treat it as a good sign.
Being nervous shows me that I want to play well and that I’m up for it. Normally nerves tend to make me feel better or play better but I found it tough on Monday in harsh conditions.
The crowd were good. Sometimes in day sessions, when it’s hot as it was, it’s not easy for people to sit out in the sun for that long. There was a great atmosphere and lot of people out there watching.
“It helps having family here”
In Grand Slams, if you go through to the end, you have two weeks of tennis with a day off after every match.
Kim and Sophia are here with me in Australia and it helps. It’s nice to have them here and take my mind off the tennis when the matches are done.
I have a lot of family here: Kim’s mum is also here, as is Jamie and my mum. In the morning we can have breakfast together as a family and then in the evening, when I get back from practice, Sophia is starting to get ready for bed. – DAILY MAIL SPORT
