“It’s pretty hard being a tennis player and Mother Theresa at the same time and that’s just the way it is.”

I help design my own tennis clothes.

Ever since I was young I loved making things and being part of the design process.

When I make a commitment I stick to it.

When I make commitments I like to stick to them, especially when I’m giving back to kids. Just giving them an example of what they can achieve. I love giving back to kids. It’s fantastic.

The more matches I play, the more confident I get.

As someone who spends a lot of her time on the road, you have to look stylish but comfortable as I’m always in motion. Either traveling for my job, for pleasure, or managing the hectic pace of the modern day.

I have a Russian heart.

You control your own wins and losses.

There are so many roads you can take that will lead you the wrong way, that nobody will hear your name.

If I’m nervous, it means I had to work hard to get there, whether it’s playing in a tournament or speaking at an event. So I try to stop and be proud of getting to live in that moment.

I have had lots of luck in my career but there has also been a lot of hard work.

Whenever I have friends over, we end up eating and talking and losing track of time, and, once in a while, singing karaoke. It reminds me of the family meals we had in Russia, which always lasted a very long time. That’s a tradition I miss.

I think when you know what you are going to wear, it fits and it’s great material, then you feel confident in it.

In the last year I have gained a lot of experience because I have been playing against top players and realized what things to work on to get better. Top players basically tell you what your weaknesses are on the court.

I’m focused on going out every day and doing my best.

A great tennis career is something that a 15-year-old normally doesn’t have. I hope my example helps other teens believe they can accomplish things they never thought possible.

Career diversification ain’t a bad thing.

I think that gravity sets into everything, including careers, but pendulums do swing and mountains do become valleys after a while if you keep on walking.

I consider my education to be the first 10 years of my career.

The secret of long life is double careers. One to about age sixty, then another for the next thirty years.

It’s not always so great to be objectified, but I don’t feel I have much of a choice right now. I’m young in my career. I know I have to strike when the iron is hot.

Actually I’m writing as best I can, in order to keep the momentum and the career there, but I want to live.

The biggest break in my career was getting into the Beatles in 1962. The second biggest break since then is getting out of them.

One has to be fully committed to one’s career. Otherwise, there’s no point.