Bally’s blog – that winning feeling

Written by: Staff on 30th August 2010

Bally’s blog – that winning feeling

Elena Baltacha (GBR) |

Hi guys,

It’s so nice to be writing this after a win, especially a victory like the one I enjoyed today against Petra Martic. Petra is a tough player but mentally it was a difficult one because I’d lost to her at Wimbledon in a match I really should have won. I played really, really well today, stayed pumped, kept my focus and my discipline and didn’t let anything push me off course. That’s easier said than done but I worked really, really hard after Wimbledon to make sure I never had to feel the way I did at Wimbledon. I like the feeling I have now a lot better.

It doesn’t take long after you win a match for the texts and messages to start coming through and that’s always lovely. My mum was messaging me straight away, as well as lots of my friends and family back in the UK and that means a lot. I had a lot of support on the court too and that makes a big difference, especially on the outside courts here at the US Open, where people really get into it and make a lot of noise. It’s why I love playing here and when the noise is from Scottish and other British fans then it’s even better.

I’ve also had a lot of messages on Twitter, which I’m a little bit addicted to. It’s nice to be able to talk to tennis fans and the people who follow me give me a lot of support and encouragement and say really positive things. Having the support of organisations like 10sBalls.com helps a lot too and I’m very proud to wear the patch on my match gear, especially as green is my lucky colour!

I play Petra Kvitova in the next round, who you might remember played really well at Wimbledon this year. She’s clearly a very, very dangerous player and I’ve learned never, ever to underestimate any opponents, especially grand slam semi-finalists. She hasn’t played amazing tennis since then, though and from my own point of view I don’t feel like I have a lot to lose from here on in. The match against Martic was huge for me. I had a few ranking points to defend from reaching the final round of qualifying here last year but what happened at Wimbledon and all the work I put in made it a big match. Now I’ve won it I can relax a little bit and just play. If I do that and I perform the way I did today I’ve got a good chance.

Whatever happens I’ll enjoy it because I realise that these are the moments to treasure. Thanks for all your good wishes and keep cheering for me!

Bally x

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Topics: Bally, Blog, British Fans, Dangerous Player, Discipline, Encouragement, Friends And Family, Little Bit, Lot, Love, Match, Opponents, Organisations, Point Of View, Semi Finalists, Tennis Fans, Texts, Twitter, Victory, Wimbledon