I'm just like every other girl who likes to shop, likes to look good, likes to spend time with friends.

Of course, everyone knows my story of being born in Russia and moving to the United States at 7. For a few years people would say, 'Well, she's living in the United States, but she's Russian.'

I look forward to the challenges.

I don't follow other players or the tournaments they play. I have my own schedule and do my own thing. I never really think, 'Oh, I want to be or play like so-and-so.' I just like being myself.

I help design my own tennis clothes.

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.

There are so many roads you can take that will lead you the wrong way, that nobody will hear your name.