Interview with Tiffany Dabek

You had a breakthrough at the US Open last year when you qualified for the main draw. Do you find it challenging to return to a place where you`ve been successful in the past, or does it make it easier?

The 2005 US Open was the highlight of my career so far. It was my dream to play in the Open, so playing there year after year is my goal. I was one out of the qualies 2 years in a row, so I did not even get the chance to compete then. Returning to the US Open is and will always be encouraging for me because I know how hard I worked to get there, so I am free to go for it with no expectations. Returning to other tournaments where I have performed well, is usually a pleasure because it brings back fond memories.

Is it difficult to survive financially on the ITF circuit?

It is difficult to survive on the ITF circut, if they are the only tournaments I am playing. Even if I am performing well, I still have to cover all of my expenses.

How do you prepare for a match?

I prepare for a match weeks in advance by training with my coach Sandra Cacic. Prior to leaving for a tournament she makes me hit thousands of balls, working on consistency accuracy and discipline. The day of a match I usually get up several hours before my match, have a good breakfast, stretch and warm up on court, then I am ready to go!

How do you relax after a match?

I love to jog after a match to cool down. Reading helps me relax and forget everything that happened on court that day

What do you like to do away from the court to take your mind off the tennis for a while?

My hobbies include dancing, cooking, running on the beach, reading, spending time with my friends and family, writing, organizing scrap books of my travels, learning about the different cultures of the countries I am visiting, meeting new people, playing all sports!, emailing friends, keeping up with my web site, watching Dancing with the Stars and visiting museums.

What are your favourite and least favourite things about being a professional tennis player?

My favorite things about being a professional are competing at the sport I love and travelling the world. My least favorite thing is being away from friends and family.

Where do you see yourself this time next year? Do you have a specific goal?

I am trying to stay in the moment and do the best I can in these next few tournaments, that is my goal for now.

What are your views on Hawkeye and instant replay only being available to players on the show courts?

Hawkeye seems to be successful on those courts but I have not made up my mind whether we should permanently implement it.

How do you feel about the WTA`s experimenting with on-court coaching?

I have not yet competed in an event that allows on court coaching. It seems that it could benefit the lower ranked players who may not have as much confidence on court as the top players do, therefore having the coach there to guide them, may make early round play more interesting.

A lot has been made about the supposed slump in American tennis at the moment. What are your thoughts on the situation?

We will not have another Agassi or Sampras, but I believe that there is a lot of talent out there and each player is unique, so I think we are expecting too much. Tennis requires tremendous discipline and hard work. America is quite well off, but I believe Venus and Serena paved the way for young players, proving that if you dedicate yourself you can achieve your dreams.