Tournament to tournament

Last month was a pretty busy one, as I flew out to the USA to compete in two tournaments there. First up was the Pensacola Open in Florida where the conditions weren't the greatest, when it finally stopped raining and we were able to play, it was still really windy and its pretty hard to play with a wind across the court!

I wasn't playing my best and lost out in the semi finals of the singles.  However, I paired with Lucy Shuker again in doubles and we managed to edge the final 7-6, 7-6 to come away with the win. Having not been at my best all week, I was happy to come away with a trophy!

It was then onto the Cajun Classic tournament in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where I won both my singles and doubles semi-final matches.

The singles final was against the World No.4 Sabine Ellerbrock and despite taking it to three sets I lost out 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.   I was then facing Sabine again in the doubles final later the same day, this time I was partnering Marjolein Buis and Sabine was playing with Lucy.   We lost out on a close match but I hadn't been at my best all the time in the USA so I know what I need to work on when I get home and come back stronger.

#wheelchairtennis

A double win in Bolton

It was great to get back on court this week at the USN Bolton Arena Indoor Championships.   It was so good to see that the popularity of wheelchair tennis is growing with the large numbers of girls that entered too. 

I'm really happy at coming away from the tournament winning both the Singles and Doubles titles. it's my first singles title of the year and just showing the results of all the hard work and training I've been doing to improve my singles game. 

I wouldn't be able to train and compete the way I do without some really great support, and I wanted to say a massive thank you to my team at Tennis Foundation, Living Tennis, 17 Sports Management and my sponsors, The National Lottery/UK Sport, Babolat, Adidas, RGK Wheelchairs, First Avenue Estates and KT Tape UK, all of whom help make my success possible.

#wheelchairtennis #sport #women

Raising the profile

Well, since getting back from Australia, I don't seem to have stopped and there's been plenty of media interest in what I've achieved. It's all been really great and is helping to raise the profile of the sport, and me of course!

I really enjoyed taking part in the BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Panel with Eleanor Oldroyd recently, it was great to be able to discuss all sorts of sporting issues openly in this format with people from different sporting backgrounds.

Yesterday I had a lot of fun filming at the BBC for A Question of Sport. I was on Matt Dawson's team, but as the programme hasn't been broadcast yet, I can't tell you the result! Keep an eye on my Twitter and Facebook as I'll let you know the date it's due for broadcasting.

High Five!

Friday 30 January 2015, what a day that was! 

That was the day Yui and I won our fifth consecutive Grand Slam title, the Australian Open Ladies Doubles in Melbourne.  The final against Jiske and Aniek was probably the hardest match I have ever played.  It was a real battle over three sets and I'm so relieved we came out on top 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 after 3 hours 21 minutes.  I think we were all exhausted by then and it couldn't have been closer.  I think the experience I'd got from winning four slams last year really showed and it certainly helped us to finish the game.

I'm really happy that, after the season we had last year, we were able to come back and be at the top of our game. There are so many people who help make this possible and I would like to thank everyone at the Tennis Foundation, Living Tennis, 17 Management, UK Sport through the National Lottery and my sponsors RGK, Babolat, Adidas and First Avenue Estates. I would also like to thank all of the people who sent their messages of love and support, it means so much to me.

Unfortunately my singles campaign at the Australian Open was over almost before it started. I'd prepared well and practice had been great but it just didn't happen for me on the day, as I lost in straight sets in the first round.

So now, with five Grand Slams under the belt, Yui and I will be trying to make it six at the French Open in Paris, in June.

#wheelchairtennis #AustralianOpen #GrandSlam

Australian Open Ladies Doubles Final 2015

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