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.