The first one (major title) is super hard to win, but going in, before you win your first, you don’t have that kind of pressure. The second is when you say, I belong here, I’m going to prove not just to everyone, but also to myself that I’m meant to be here. I think the difference with Kerber is that she’s a bit more mature. She’s been on Tour for a while. She fights so hard, every ball. She’s in unbelievable shape, she has prepared herself. For someone like Garbine Muguruza it might take another year or whatever time it might take (to win her second title). She has the game to win more Grand Slams.
Maria Sharapova’s return in April next year:
Maria is probably one of the toughest competitors that the Tour has. She’s mentally very strong. She’s never needed a lot of matches to play well. She hasn’t had any trauma or anything like that happen to her. I think she’s going to do well, coming back. It might take her a few matches to get back, but I’m not sure it’s going to take her all that many matches.
Serena Williams, the greatest of all time?
Serena, Graf and Navratilova are still fighting it out. It depends on what Serena will end up doing these next few years. It’s unfortunate that Serena had those long periods when she didn’t play on the Tour because of injury. She’s still playing unbelievable tennis at 35, but it’s definitely not her prime. To have a player like her has been great for the sport. I remember when I first played Serena in Chicago, she was 16 I think, I was No. 1 in the world and I remember calling my agent and saying, ‘my days as No. 1 are numbered’. You kind of felt that here’s a player that is so complete. You want to see her healthy next year and try to go for a few more tournament wins.
Coaching:
I’ve been asked by a couple of players (to coach them), but I chose not to do it because of the travel. I’ve already done so much of it in my career. If I have to coach somebody, they would have to be your life. You have to travel with them to actually do the right job. As a tennis player, you have to be a bit selfish and also as a coach you have to be selfish. I don’t want that at this stage of my life.
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