By the time I was 9, I was frequently asked to play exhibitions at grand openings, fund-raisers for charities, and other special events.

I started tennis around age 2.

To meet my goals, I couldn't let up when I was playing tennis.

I won the Wimbledon mixed doubles title in 1980.

From one match to the next, I kept on winning.

Mary Joe Fernandez rarely has a bad loss. She never tries for stupid shots.

Winning that first game was so important; my mother always said that the first game of the second set was the chance to keep it going if you were ahead or change things if you were behind.