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| Vania with Marcelo Melo after the French Open mixed doubles final© AFP/Getty Images |
Vania King has had an outstanding career since turning pro in July 2006, winning one singles and seven doubles titles on the WTA Tour, and, most recently, reaching the mixed doubles final at the 2009 French Open. A 20-year-old from Long Beach, Calif., King is writing an exclusive blog for USTA.com throughout the year as she travels to different tournaments around the world. This week, she is competing at the AEGON International in Eastbourne, England.
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She will be answering questions from fans in her daily blogs and would love to hear from you . Please keep in mind, however, that due to her busy playing schedule she does not have time to answer all questions.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Hey everyone!
Well, I'm writing here from the Eastbourne player's lounge, where there is currently only a sparce amount of people left. Only the people still playing in the tournament plus a handful are still here -- the rest have left for London to practice at Wimbledon.
I'm here playing doubles with Zheng--we play our semifinal match later today. I was very unhappy to miss the pre-player's party yesterday in London, but since I was still here, I wasn't able to go. Actually, I would have made the effort, but since my coach is here, it was really his disapproval of me going that made the difference!
I had a great day yesterday, though, because my best friend came from California to see me! She flew into London and took the train down from London to Eastbourne. We spent the afternoon walking around town along the beach, boardwalk, pier and inner city. The town is pretty small, so it could feasibly take only half an hour to do all the sites, but we had some dinner and tried to shop, but all the shops closed at 5:30 p.m. When we are in the States, we really take for granted the consumerism of shop owners who close at 11 p.m.!
We took tons of pictures, and I think we asked almost every passerby to take pictures of us! We walked along the pier into a gaming area, where we did some DDR and shooting games. She chose the former, I chose the latter. We took random pictures at the end of the pier and then headed to find a bank.
Before I continue, I have to admit I did something very stupid yesterday. I was trying to withdraw money from an ATM in a little supermarket, and I put my card in and pulled it out, entered my pin, and the transaction could not be completed. (The third time on this trip -- I'm very unhappy with my bank because, especially overseas, you need your cards to work!) I didn't see my card, and the screen read, "Please take your card," and I freaked out, thinking the machine stole my card. I went to the register and told the clerk that the machine took my card (relatively calmly, if I had screamed at her I would have been even more embarrassed), and she came over, and it wasn't until I saw her slide the card in, then slide it out that I realized, my card was safely tucked in my wallet. I was SO embarrassed! She took it pretty well, though, and I apologized profusely. My excuse was that usually the ATM takes your card and then returns it back to you, and when I saw the machine read for me to take my card back, I thought it stole my card!!
So after walking along the pier, we went back to look for a bank to try another ATM machine. As we were passing by a pub (that earlier we noted read Karaoke, but the customers didn't seem very enthusiastic, and we didn't hear any music), a group of college-aged guys were sitting at the tables outside. One of them came sauntering up to us and asked us if: 1. we were English (no); 2. we spoke English (yes), and then explained that he just graduated from college (he was talking slowly and exaggerating the use of his hands, as if we didn't speak English well) with the highest honors in carpentry. His friends had bet him 10 pounds if he could get a kiss from either of us. We both backed up a step at the same time. His friends were calling out and saying no, don't, he got all B's, he has herpes, and I said, Herpes??
He said, does it look I have herpes?? very affrontedly. And we both didn't say anything. My friend grabbed my arm, and we left them all, with him standing there. I felt kind of bad for him, but well...if he was better looking...hahaha! I'm so superficial.
So for my friend's first day, it was very interesting, and we had a lot of fun. We missed the player's party in London, but I think it was worth it to spend time with my best friend!!
Yes, I know I spoke a lot about tennis! I'm kind of starting to feel like a doubles specialist here, since I'm playing so much doubles! And by the way, I have to try to find a mixed partner for Wimbledon!! I might try to do the same thing I did in Roland Garros -- put my name down as looking the day before, and check an hour before sign in. I'm sure to find someone that way -- I hope!! If not, then I'll just play singles and doubles :)
Cheers everyone!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Hey everyone!
Sorry I haven't written in awhile. My dearly loved computer had hardware malfunction, so I was unable to use my computer. It will be sorely missed. So I've skipped over the week I was in Birmingham, and now I am in Eastbourne, England.
Birmingham was interesting, to say the least. We got there on Saturday to rain, and the first time I was able to practice on grass was the warmup for my match on Monday. Coming from clay courts to super fast and super uneven grass was difficult, to say the least! At least I got a few days (emphasis on "few" because it was raining most days) of practice in before heading to Eastbourne. Here, I lost first round of the qualifying to Hradecka, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7. I was disappointed but pleased with my performance. I played much better than in Birmingham.
Eastbourne is a really nice town and tournament. All the official hotels overlook the water, and there is a nice boardwalk and street of restaurants. I remember from years past that there was some shopping, but I've been good! I have to be careful because with coaching and expenses, I don't have a lot left over, if any! We are still waiting to play doubles. I am playing here with Zheng Jie from China. We are also staying in an apartment together next week at Wimbledon.
I have to mention that my best friend is coming to visit at Wimbledon, and I am SO excited! We met each other in juniors when we were 11 or 12. We played doubles together (making some very good results, I must say), and when I decided to turn professional, she decided to go to university. We haven't been able to spend a long time together (more than one day) because of my traveling and her studies (and her tennis because she plays on the team -- one of the best players, too! :D).
I have a few questions from the last week or so, so I'll take some time to answer them now.
A question from Irma: I am a short person, just like you (sorry... no offense). How do you serve and hit the balls so hard? Any special training that you have to do just to be like you?
Hi Irma! While it may seem that I hit the serve hard on TV, I actually don't serve that hard! Especially in the mixed doubles and on clay! I think for us short people ;) it's more important to have an effective serve rather than a powerful serve because we can't out-hit our way if we play bigger and stronger players. In the mixed, I felt like my serve was effective because, first, the men are not used to having to swing and create shots -- male serves are so hard that usually a chip or block is needed. I put a lot of first serves in, and my first serves hit the spots I wanted to to create the points. Good luck!
Marie asks: My question is what kind of footwork drills do you do before your match? And are you playing this year at the WTA Event in Carson, Calif.?
Hi Marie! Before my match, I don't do specific footwork drills, but I make sure I am warm -- jogging, some sprints, and some quick agility steps to make sure my feet are quick and my legs are ready. And, yes, I am planning to play the event in Carson!
Donna, who is a high school tennis coach from my high school tennis days, asks: Would you have time to send some words of advice to young players?
Hi Donna! So much has changed from those high school tennis days! If you're talking about high school players, my advice would be to focus first on academics, until you decide what it is you really want to do. If you decide to pursue tennis as a career, then invest yourself wholeheartedly into tennis, and give it all you have. This way, you won't regret anything!
James asks: When you play mixed doubles, do you serve and stay back, like ladies' doubles, or do you serve and volley, like men's doubles?
Hi James. Usually I serve and stay back; however, the surface makes a big difference. At Roland Garros, it was difficult for me to serve and volley because my serve was not powerful enough to give me the time to get close enough to the net to be effective. If I was on a faster surface, then I would probably throw in a few serve and volleys. However, because of my size, serve and volleying is more of a change-of-look tactic instead of a consistent play.
Thank you, everyone, for all your kind words. It really touches my heart.
Love,
Vania
Read Vania's past blogs:
Roland Garros in Paris
Madrid Open in Madrid, Spain
Italian Open in Rome
Family Circle Cup in Charleston, S.C.
Back home in California
Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Fla.
BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif.
Monterrey Open in Monterrey, Mexico
Regions Morgan Keegan Championships & the Cellular South Cup in Memphis, Tenn.
Dow Corning Tennis Classic in Midland, Mich.