Reflecting back and looking ahead

As the year comes to an end I'm still catching myself looking back and thinking 'did that all happen?!'.  I just have to take a look at the trophies and remind myself!  Following a visit from Santa, I now have a fantastic cabinet to keep them in too!

2014 has been a great year, the four doubles Grand Slam victories with Yui are obviously a highlight, but there have been many more personal victories for me that aren't quite as public but all the same mean progress to me.

I'm heading into 2015 with renewed confidence and determination to replicate my doubles success through my singles game and I'm eager to head out to Australia soon for a couple of warm up tournaments ahead of the Australian Open.   I'll be looking good out there too, thanks to a new kit deal with Adidas!

Keep any eye on my Facebook and Twitter accounts for updates and thanks to you all for your support.

#wheelchairtennis #disabilitysport #sport #grandslam

Sports Personality of the Year

I travelled up to Glasgow at the weekend to attend the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards at the SSE Hydro.  I went into the arena quite early to have a look and was amazed to find I was seated in the very front row!  Not only that, but I was sitting next to the beautiful Victoria Pendleton. 

It was a really great evening and it was brilliant to see all the nominees up on the stage right in front of me including the overall winner, Lewis Hamilton, and Prince Harry too, who presented an award.  I was in the presence of both sporting and real royalty!

After the awards there was a party for all the guests, where I was able to catch up with several people I don't see too often and also saw Clare Balding again, twice in a week, she's a great woman and I really love her friendly, warm style.  I managed to get a photo with her and two other athletes and friends, Hannah and Ben.

After that it was back home and back to the business of training, with Christmas coming, I need to put in the hours to compensate! 

Celebrating Women in Sport

It was quite a late night last night as I was at the BT Sport Action Woman of the Year awards.  I had been nominated for the award - but the shortlist was packed with really impressive, strong successful women, so I was proud to just be among them and recognised for my last year.  I was a little in awe sitting in a studio full of really inspiring women to be honest!

The awards show was recorded for broadcasting on BBC Sport channel and Clare Balding interviewed me on stage about my year.  I don't know if you've had a chance to see it, but I really meant it as a compliment when I likened my doubles partner, Yui, to a shopping bag, although it might have seemed a bit odd at the time!

Congratulations to the overall winner of the award, Charlotte Dujardin and to all those, like myself, who were nominated and recognised for our achievements.  It made me very proud to be a woman in sport, and in British sport.

I had my eye on the trophy, hopefully next year!

With Clare Balding 

It's always lovely to see Judy Murray

Unveiling ceremony for The Jordanne Whiley Wing

Earlier in the year I was contacted by North Beckton Primary School in Newham, London who told me that the children had heard my story and been following me and supporting my success throughout the year.  I was so pleased just to hear that, so what followed really stunned me.  The school had decided to name a building in my honour.

Today I attended the school and met some of the children and officially opened the building by unveiling the plaque.  I felt like royalty!

I had a really wonderful day and the children were absolutely amazing.  The school should be so proud of them.  I'm delighted that they are all now on #TeamWhiley and I'll be trying to repay this honour with more success in 2015.

Masters of the Game

I was so excited to play an exhibition match tonight at the iconic Royal Albert Hall as part of the Statoil Masters.  I was invited to play in a doubles match, partnering Mansour Bahrami, against Gordon Reid and Peter McNamara, to promote wheelchair tennis, ahead of the main feature match; John McEnroe v Pat Cash.  I hope I'm still playing when I'm the age these guys are,  skill never leaves you it seems.

Reflecting on the last week

Having had a while to reflect on the last week and my performance at the NEC Masters, I can say I'm happy.

I was bitterly disappointed to lose a semi final after coming so close, however, before going into the Masters tournament, I was worried about even making the semi finals!  So now, having come third in the tournament and played the best tennis of my career, I've gained the confidence and knowledge that I can really compete; therefore I can win the Australian Open in January, so that's now my goal.

Before that though, it's time for me to take a few days off.....It's been quite a week!  I'll be back training hard next week.  

Thank you all for your support this year, it means so much to me.

Making my way through the Masters

So the draw for the NEC Masters placed me in Group A and first up was a match against World No.1 and my doubles partner, Yui Kamiji - wow! I think you could say we know one another pretty well by now, having travelled the world together and played in as many matches as we have.

We had a great match and I came out on top, winning 6-2, 6-3. So happy!! Next up after some rest and a good nights sleep was World No.4, Sabine Ellerbrock. A testing second set, but I came out on top again, winning the match 6-3,7-5. I still have a group match to play, but I'm in the Semi-finals at the weekend! It has been a long season and I am so delighted with my progress and the support I have had from the fans.

The photo taken by the Tennis Foundation after my win today says it all.

Meeting the Mayor

I've just had a really great morning playing tennis with The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, on a mini court set up outside City Hall, to promote the NEC Masters which is coming up this weekend.

I’m really looking forward to going back to play at the Olympic Park this week, for the first time since I won Bronze in the 2012 Paralympics.  I hope to see a good number of fans there to support us as it's a great venue. 

Have a look at all the info www.wheelchairtennismasters.com

Post tournament thoughts

Well, it was a mixed week for me at the Nottingham Indoor Tournament. Lucy Shuker and I won the Doubles title and I played well in my singles Semi Final. It just wasn’t my day in the Final though, where I lost in straight sets to World No 2 Jiske Griffioen. I was disappointed and know that I can play much better. I'm now preparing for the NEC Masters at Lee Valley Hockey & Tennis Centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.  Hope to have a great crowd there to get behind me.

My 'Red Carpet' moment

I had my first ever 'red carpet' experience this week at the Sunday Times Sky Sports 'Sports Woman of the Year' awards.  I was shortlisted in the category of Disability Sports Woman of the Year up against strong competition in Libby Clegg, Kelly Gallagher and Stephanie Slater, who won the award.

It was a fabulous night and a really great excuse to get dressed up during the season, when I normally spend all my time in sports kit.

I had a competition the next day though, so there wasn't too much time to party!

Jordanne the Movie Star

Finally saw the finished cut of the short movie about me that has been made by the independent film maker Zak Razvi and am really pleased to be able to share it.

First serve leading to a Grand Slam

I've been meaning to start a blog for a while now, but with training, competing and travelling around the world, it just hasn't happened. However after my Bronze medal at London 2012 and this year being so monumental I thought I needed to start documenting things before they get away from me, so am starting with a summary of the year to date.

My year started in Australia for the Australian Open. I took to the court with my doubles partner, Yui Kamiji, for the final on Friday 24th January feeling confident with the hopes of a great year ahead.  My dreams came true and I became the first British woman to win a Grand Slam title.

From there I went on to play some tour matches in the USA and on to the French Open at the amazing Roland Garros.  Another brilliant win, on 6th June my partner and I became French Open Champions. 

Focus turned to Wimbledon which, as a British player, was the real pinnacle.  The realisation on making the final that I could be leaving court that day having won 3 Grand Slams just made more more determined.  We did it!  Only the US Open in September to go...

Arriving on court at the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, I tried not to think about the past wins, but it's difficult not to think about what a win here may mean when it's four Grand Slams!

It was a hard final that went to three sets, and I was left exhausted but totally exhilarated with a win!  Four Grand Slam wins in a year.  

This might take a while to sink in, and I am going to enjoy every moment.  

You can visit my website www.jordannewhiley.com to learn more about me.