“I always ask my dad why wasn’t I a lefty? Even when I was younger I wanted to be lefty. I could have been really good.”

I really hope that I can be helpful in that journey because I do believe that women deserve the same pay. We work just as hard as men do. I’ve been working, playing tennis, since I was three years old. And to be paid less just because of my sex – it doesn’t seem fair.

I don’t go there thinking I’m going to lose. I never go into a tournament thinking that. I’ll do the best that I can. I need to be at my peak and my best is holding up the trophy. Anything less I wouldn’t be really excited about. So that’s all I can focus on.

The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up. Make sure you’re very courageous: be strong, be extremely kind, and above all be humble.

I love who I am, and I encourage other people to love and embrace who they are. But it definitely wasn’t easy – it took me a while.

Think of all the girls who could become top athletes but quit sports because they’re afraid of having too many defined muscles and being made fun of or called unattractive.

I always believe I can beat the best, achieve the best. I always see myself in the top position.

I don’t know if I’ve had my share of drama, but I’ve definitely had my share of hard times.

I’m really exciting. I smile a lot, I win a lot, and I’m really sexy.

If you smile things will work out.

Am I the greatest? I don’t know. I’m the greatest that I can be.

I wish I could play like Roger Federer.

If anything, you know, I think losing makes me even more motivated.

You have to believe in yourself when no one else does.

I don’t have anything to prove ever, ever in my life. If I have something to prove, what does that mean for everyone else? And I think everyone should have that attitude.

I’m not one to blame anyone else for anything. And I don’t think anyone else should either.

Victory is very, very sweet. It tastes better than any dessert you’ve ever had.

I come from a family of working professionals: my dad is a chartered accountant, and my mom is a professor.

But the love of adventure was in father’s blood.

We played in an era where you were taught to hate your opponent. But life changes. I raise my kids differently than my mom and dad raised their kids.

I guess I learnt to appreciate old Hindi-movie music from my dad and somewhere down the line picked up jazz as well.

The only advice my Dad’s given me is: If you ain’t having fun, it ain’ working, so always have fun with what you’re doing. If you don’t love it then there’s no reason to do it. And don’t do it for fame or money- do it because it’s something that you feel is right.

The closest encounter I had with films in my childhood was sitting on the lap of my father at a shooting set, and he would say ‘rain,’ and it started raining, and then he would say ‘song,’ and people started dancing. I thought I was sitting on God’s lap.

Whenever I fail as a father or husband. A toy and a diamond always works.

Life doesn’t come with an instruction book; that’s why we have fathers.