This trophy is so special in the world of tennis and it feels great.

Another factor is the education and culture in which you grow up. I didn't grow up in the culture of victory, where you are expected to be or have to be, the best. It was not at all like that in my family. Tennis was really a hobby. If it led to something, great. If not, there were other things in life. I think that was something I was missing at some points in my career, because when I see Hingis or the Williamses, you see how they were educated for this: to win, to be the best, a bit the American mentality. Number one. Number one. Number one. I didn't have this.

This trophy is so special in the world of tennis and it feels great.

It took me time to adjust and to realise it was not going to happen like it did in the juniors.

Whether it's in the right way or sometimes the wrong way, you learn about life and its lessons.

We all had, at some point, matches we should have won and we didn't and that's the game. That's just the way the sport is. Otherwise, if everything was written before, we don't need to play.

I have been amongst the best players in the world for 8 years. None at that level played as many ties as I did.