I'm an afternoon tea type of girl. I come from a Russian background where we love our teas. So between lunch and dinner after training I come home and I love a nice cup of tea with jam in it, as we drink it there. Black English Breakfast with raspberry jam is my favorite.
I learned there's a big difference between juniors and the pros.
Whenever I have friends over, we end up eating and talking and losing track of time, and, once in a while, singing karaoke. It reminds me of the family meals we had in Russia, which always lasted a very long time. That's a tradition I miss.
When I need to push myself, I think of all those nicely polished trophies waiting to be lifted up by the winner - and how that winner might be me.
I'm not the next anyone, I'm the first Maria Sharapova.
The more matches I play, the more confident I get.
Music is a part of my life all the time - on the plane, before matches, driving out to the court.
I love to collect modern art.
My parents had a normal life in Russia and they could have easily kept living a normal life, working and raising a child in Russia.
I've been very competitive by nature from a young age, whether it was eating a bowl of pasta faster than somebody else, or always wanting to be the first one in line.
It's strange for my friends when they see me on TV and in magazines, because the person that they see doing interviews and pictures on the red carpet is not the person that they know.
I love getting consumer reports. I think it's one of my favourite things, studying what people have to say about the product and then trying to make it better.
My family and I built my whole career from scratch.
I'm not a huge gym person, so I try to stay away from the gym. But I love to run on the beach or go for a walk. It's better than riding a stationary bike.
Since I'm constantly in the sun, I use sunscreen daily.
I mean, I think I'm doing a lot better than other people that have had shoulder surgery in their careers. Some people have never come back.
Sometimes I feel my arm is like a swan's neck - so weak.
I have a very big sweet tooth and I love treating myself to something that I wouldn't necessarily eat during the tournament such as a nice-sized cake.
A great tennis career is something that a 15-year-old normally doesn't have. I hope my example helps other teens believe they can accomplish things they never thought possible.
I've been playing against older and stronger competition my whole life. It has made me a better tennis player and able to play against this kind of level despite their strength and experience.
