You have to be extreme to be exceptional. I couldn't revel in being number one. I had to get to zero. When my fitness was at its peak, I was intimidating. I made guys cave in. They'd be dejected in the locker room after matches, and I'd go out for a run, as if it wasn't enough. I'd rub it in their faces. I meant to do that.

You have to look at each tie and look at what your options are.

I am there to play tennis and represent the U.S., but I'm also aware that not everyone's going to be able to think that way.

Us going out there and performing our best. That's how I define success. I'm not going to define it for us by the wins and the losses as much as by the effort and how we handle ourselves.

Tennis is more than just shots. It's about being clutch and beating the people on the other side of the net.

It's hard for anyone in the 24-hour news cycles that we all live in now to follow something that the first round is played in March and the final finishes in December. I understand the challenges there.

In America, we love to give people second chances too - as long as you admit you were wrong and come back and do it the right way.