Athlete

Slowly from just touching the ball I got to making the ball and eventually hitting a decent defensive shot. Because I don't have a lot of weapons I have to use my speed.

Tennis is a tough sport - a long year, a lot of matches, a lot of travelling. It's not easy so being mentally tough is a big attribute. It doesn't come easy, you have to work on it.

And, honestly, tennis is such a tough sport as it is, it's only you on court, so you've got to deal with a lot of different pressures and expectations and when things aren't going well.

You can't look in the future and can't dwell on the past. It's all about the present and what you do each day.

My long-term goal is to get as high as possible in the rankings, and to improve my game each day. If I am able to do that, my ranking should get better and better.

It would be incredibly special playing at Wimbledon.

I love Australia. I love coming here, I love playing here and I love the support. It's my passion to hopefully one day be able to represent the green and gold. That's the ultimate goal.

Growing up not being the biggest guy around, you learn different ways of playing tennis. I've learned to adapt.

You have to try and take care of your service games and not get into those awkward sudden-death deuces that can only get you into trouble.

Obviously, playing in front of your home crowds really does a lot for your level.

There has obviously been a lot more attention on me but it's not going to change what I do or who I am. It's the same old me, playing the same old sport. I've just got to keep it casual and that's what I plan to do.

It's all about mentally staying in the moment and not losing concentration and trying to back up every day.

At the end of the day, it is a very long year. The tennis season is pretty much ten months of the year.

You want the players in the locker room to know you as that kid that fights 'til the end, has that never-say-die attitude.

You sort of start to slowly earn more respect from the players. You have to get used to being there and know that you belong. Mentally, that's one of the hardest parts.

You have to learn every single day, and try not to make the same mistakes. That's my mentality.

Every time I step out on court, I leave 150 per cent out there. That's the bare minimum.

I'm just going to get out there and on court, give it my all and that's what I want to do every day. That's what I want to be known for, and that's what I want other players to know about me, that I'm never going to give up.

I'm very fortunate to be in the position that I am, to be able to play the sport that I love every single day. I'm never taking that for granted.

I am a strong believer in looking at the positives of everything and setting up your image for the long-term.