I've always loved Charleston. It's always been one of my favorite tournaments.
We do a lot of lifting, and mix it up with upper body and lower body. A lot of circuit training for cardio. I hate just doing long distance running, so I do 5 or 6 different exercises for 20 to 30 seconds then move to the next one.
My nerves tend to dissipate once the match starts. When I know I've practiced as much as I can and I do my best and leave it all out there, I feel OK no matter what happens.
I think when you're younger and you're watching people play on TV, you always say that you want to be at the French Open - you want to be playing Grand Slams. But then actually being there doing it, it kind of blows you away thinking, Wow, I actually used to think maybe I could do that one day, and now I'm actually doing it.
I grew up by the Mississippi River, and I would swim in that as a kid.
The second I was on the tennis court, I had the structure I wanted. I was in complete control of what I was doing.
Serena's always been one of the best, and she will forever be one of the best tennis players in women's tennis.
