QUÉBEC CITY, Canada - Over the last few years Aleksandra Wozniak has given Canadians someone to cheer for in the upper echelon of the women's game, winning her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title at Stanford last year and this year nearly cracking the Top 20. Fresh off a third round finish at Flushing Meadows, Aleks blogs for us from her home tournament, the Bell Challenge.
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Saturday, September 19, 2009
Hi everyone,
Well, as they say, all good things must come to an end. I had a great run in both singles and doubles this week, but I couldn't keep them going tonight. Melinda played a solid match. Playing a lefty can be tricky because they play differently and sometimes it can be hard to pick up the ball on their serve.
The Fashion Girls also came up short. Vania King and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova showed tonight why they were the top-seeded team in the draw, pulling out the match in a dreaded super tie-break. Still, I learned a lot playing with Bethanie this week and it was great to get those two wins under my belt. I'm sure going to miss all the laughing we did on court, but hopefully we will team up again soon.
I'm looking forward to spending the next few days at home with my mom and my dogs, I definitely need the R&R! Just maybe now I will give in and have that poutine I have been craving all week :)
I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all the support you have given me this week and throughout my career. I really do have the best fans in the world! I loved coming home to play in front of them, there is nothing like playing for a crowd that wants you to win as badly as you do... it gives me goosebumps. I am very motivated to finish the season on a high note and your encouragement means so much to me.
I hope you enjoyed reading my blog as much I enjoyed writing it. Thanks for taking the time to send me your questions, I always love hearing from you :) Hopefully, we can do this again someday soon! You can hear from me on my coach Rob Steckley's website: www.robsteckley.com.
Love,
Aleks xx
Have you been to Poland, and if so how often do you go? - Aleksandra
Nice name :) I was born in Montréal but I visited Poland every year until I was eight years old, then I went back when I was 16, and again this spring for the Warsaw Open. I was really happy that I was able to visit my whole family before the tournament. They live in Rawa-Mazowiecka, which is about an hour from Warsaw.
How many languages do you speak, and how did you learn them? - Yuki
I speak six languages in all. My first language is Polish. My parents and sister immigrated to Canada in 1983. Since I went to school in Québec, I learned French, English and some Spanish. I can also speak Czech and Slovak because they are similar to the Polish language so it was easy for me to pick up. I have a facility with languages and I love learning about different cultures, it's really interesting and fun!
Which surface do you prefer, and which Grand Slam is your favourite? - Luis
I love all the Grand Slams! They each have a little something special and hold a special place in my heart. It's hard for me to pick which one I like best, but clay is my favourite surface so I really love playing Roland Garros. France reminds me a lot of Québec too. The cultures are so similar and the French are always so welcoming and warm, it really feels like home for me. Plus, Paris is just beautiful and there is some amazing shopping on the Champs-Élysées!!! ;)
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Friday, September 18, 2009
Greetings all!
I played a great match tonight to win against Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia. I was really in the zone from the start and everything seemed to go my way, so I couldn't be happier. This means that I am in the semifinals for the second straight year here :) Tomorrow evening I will play Melinda Czink.
I am also very excited that Bethanie and I are going to play in the doubles semifinals tomorrow against Vania King and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova. We came from behind tonight to pull out a hard-fought win - it was quite a battle. I am really working hard to improve my doubles play and matches like tonight are great for my confidence. Let's hope the Fashion Girls can keep it rolling!
It was another good night for my Montréal Canadiens as they won their second game in a row against the Ottawa Senators. The new guys are off to a great start... let's keep it going boys!
My mom came to visit me today and we took a nice, long walk in the village. It was really nice to see her and she definitely gave me extra motivation for tonight... apparently it worked :) My mom and I have always been very close and she has supported my passion for tennis from Day 1. I am looking forward to going home for a few days after Québec City before I head to Asia. I haven't been home since the beginning of July and I can't wait to see my two dogs, Kropka ad Lilly. Hopefully I will have time to relax and hang out with friends that I haven't seen in a while.
But, I still have a few matches to win before I can do that, so I better call it a night to make sure I am well rested for tomorrow. Thank you so much to all of my fans for all of your support, keep sending me your positive vibes, I am going to need them!
See you tomorrow, same time, same place, with hopefully the same result :)
Aleks xx
You had fun playing doubles with Sabine Lisicki at Wimbledon - do you plan to do it again? - Alain
Hi Alain! I did have a lot of fun playing doubles with Sabine at Wimbledon. She always keeps a positive attitude on court so it's a lot of fun to play with her, we definitely laughed a lot :) We also both speak Polish so we can discuss strategy without the other team knowing what we are saying, at least most of the time. If the opportunity comes up, I would definitely play with her again.
Do you take time in the cities you visit to do touristy things? - Max
Hey Max! Unfortunately, when I am playing a tournament, I don't have a lot of time to visit the city. I do my best, but I don't get to see as much as I would like. When I do get the chance to be a tourist, I like to visit museums and historical landmarks.
How is your confidence level whenever you go on court for a match? - Caroline
Hello Caroline. It's really important to go into every match believing that you can win it. I always try and stay in my bubble, stay focused on my side of the net and what I need to do to win. I always trust my game plan and stick with it.
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Thursday, September 17, 2009
Good evening!
Tonight I won my second round match in straight sets against Regina Kulikova of Russia. She gave me a tough test, especially in the second set, so I am happy to be moving on to the quarterfinals. My amazing fans really helped me through :) I play again tomorrow night at 7pm against another Russian, Alla Kudryavtseva. After my singles match, the Fashion Girls will be back on court for doubles. Bethanie and I will play Laura Granville and my good friend Marie-Ève Pelletier from Canada. They are both very experienced so we will have to be at our best.
I am happy to report that the Canadiens won their first pre-season game tonight against the Florida Panthers :) I hope this is a sign of things to come for the rest of the season.
I got a really nice surprise today: Godiva treats from my secret admirer ;) Chocolates and chocolate covered strawberries... I am enjoying some while writing to you, Mmmmmm!! When you get the chance, check out my coach's website (www.robsteckley.com). He writes about our adventures on the road and trust me, we have a lot of them! Plus, he brings his camera everywhere we go so he also posts videos, some of them are pretty funny! Rob and I have been working together since the start of the clay court season and I think we make a great team. We love to joke around together and he has really helped bring my game to the next level. I look forward to continuing our journey together :)
I wish you all a wonderful night, semifinals here we come!
Aleks xx
Do you have time to have fun, like hanging out with friends and going out? David
I don't have a lot of time for myself, but when I do I definitely love to have fun! Even though I have a busy schedule, I always make time for my friends and family because they are so important to me :) I always stay connected to them even when I'm on the road. I enjoy going to the movies with my friends and just spending time at home whenever I can.
Because your names are so similar, does anyone ever get you confused with Caroline? Tracy
It happens a lot actually! Often I get things sent to my hotel room that are actually meant for Caroline and the same thing happens to her. Sometimes, I get asked which one of us I am because people aren't sure, it's funny :) It's getting better now because people are starting to recognize us more, but we really do have a lot in common!
How do you choose your partners when you play mixed doubles? Kris
We only have the chance to play with the guys four times a year at the Grand Slams. This year was my first time I played mixed doubles with my fellow Canadian Daniel Nestor in Australia and it was a great experience. Daniel and I are good friends so when he asked me If I wanted to play with him, I was really excited because he is one of the best doubles players of all time!
You're going to Asia after this - do you have any tips to deal with jet lag? Max
Jet lag is definitely a tough part of being a tennis player. I always like to arrive to a tournament a few days early so that can I get adjusted to the time change before I start playing matches. Going to Asia and Australia are probably the hardest because they are almost a full day ahead and the flight is usually over two days, so it's a lot to get used to, but I'm lucky because I get adjusted pretty quickly...I manage ;)
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Hey Gang!
Well, I had a pretty relaxing day today. I spent most of the afternoon resting to get ready for my doubles match tonight with Bethanie Mattek-Sands. The Fashion Girls made an awesome debut :) We won in straight sets against Jill Craybas and Liga Dekmeijere, two very talented doubles players. I had a blast playing with Bethanie, she sure knows how to have fun on court, so it was much easier to let loose and go for my shots. We both have similar games too, so it was easy to adjust to one another. We will play again on Friday.
I just started reading the book "Same Kind of Different as Me", which was an early birthday gift from my friend. It's a true story about a slave who becomes friends with a famous art dealer. I'll make sure to give you a full review when I finish reading. I really like to read, especially when I am on the road. I'm glad I get to be home for the start of the hockey season this week. My team, the Montréal Canadiens, are playing their first pre-season game tomorrow night against the Florida Panthers. We have a whole new team this year, new coach and a lot of new players so I'm sure it will be an exciting season and the city of Montréal will be as hockey crazy as ever - I can't wait!
I was flipping through the channels today and noticed that a lot of TV shows have started their new seasons. My favourites are One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl. I'm going to bring the latest seasons on DVD with me on my trip to Asia so that I can get caught up on the episodes I missed! I will play my second round singles match tomorrow evening against Regina Kulikova of Russia. Actually, tomorrow's night session will be a Canadian double header with Valérie Tétreault kicking things off against Lucie Safarova. Val has a great game for indoor hardcourts and she has been on a roll this summer so she will definitely get the crowd fired up for my match!
Hopefully I will have more good news to report tomorrow after my match. Until then, wish me luck :)
Aleks xo
What's your favourite home-cooked meal? - Mathieu
Cher Mathieu, I love my mom's home-cooked meals, especially Polish perogies! I'm not home a lot so when I am, she likes to cook all kinds of Polish meals for me and she teaches me her tricks so that I can cook for my future family :) I like to cook every once in a while, my specialty is a crab and rice dish - yummy! When I have time, I like to try out new recipes.
How did you feel sharing the court with Monica in Toronto this summer? - Martin
Hey Martin, it was a wonderful experience playing with legends like Monica, Martina and Serena, I will never forget it! Monica was my idol growing up, so having the chance to play on the same side of the net as her was really special. She was so nice, plus we were playing in front of my home fans, so I couldn't have asked for better! She signed her new book for me ;)
Do you ever talk to other players when choosing your schedule? - Jeffrey
Hi Jeffrey, every player makes their own schedule, but we always talk to each other at player board meetings so we have an idea of who is going to be playing which tournaments. I don't worry about what the other girls are doing when I choose which events I want to play.
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Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Hello everyone!
I won my first round match tonight against Corinna Dentoni of Italy. It's always nice to get that first win under your belt, especially when you're playing at home. I stayed aggressive and was able to control a lot of the points so I am really happy to have gotten through such a tricky opponent. It was great to have the chance to play in front of my fans, I sure missed them. They were so supportive, it really gave me a boost out there tonight. Hopefully they will still have some energy left for my next match!
Tonight was my first match since I celebrated my birthday last week so I am officially undefeated as a 22-year-old :) Even though I spent most of the day training, I had an awesome birthday! My family and friends made it really special for me and I want to thank all of my fans for taking the time to send me their wishes, you definitely brightened my day!
It's nice to be in Québec City when the temperatures aren't freezing and there's no snow on the ground, even though I'm used to it :) The city is so beautiful this time of year with the leaves changing colour, so pretty!
Tomorrow night I will play doubles with Bethanie Mattek-Sands against Jill Craybas and Liga Dekmeijere. This week is our first time playing together and I am really looking forward to it. Bethanie is a very accomplished doubles player so I will definitely be taking notes. One thing is for sure, we are going to have a lot of fun! I play my second round singles match on Thursday against Regina Kulikova. I have never played her before, but I have practiced with her a few times this week so hopefully I will be able to adjust to her style of play quickly.
Thanks for all of your questions, I have answered a few of them, keep them coming! Off to bed now, talk to you tomorrow!
Aleks
What are your thoughts on Kim Clijsters' win at the US Open? - Bobby
Hello Bobby :) I am really happy for Kim! She is one of the nicest girls on Tour and she has always been such a gracious champion. Her win at the US Open just proves what an amazing athlete she is to be able to play at such a high level so quickly after being away from the game. It is inspiring for all of us knowing that she has to balance her tennis with being a mother - the most important job in the world of course! Hopefully she will keep playing well because it's definitely great to have her back.
Did you ever have a temper on court and if so how did you overcome it? - Sandra
Dear Sandra, I have always been pretty good at controlling my emotions on court, I try not to be too expressive on court whether I am feeling good or frustrated because I don't want to show my opponent or give them extra motivation to beat me. I do my best to stay in my bubble and stay focused on what I need to do to win the match. It's not always easy to be positive when things aren't going well, but I try to stay in the moment and focus on each point.
Which other Canadian players are you friends with on the Tour? - Helene
Hi Helene, yes! I grew up playing with a lot of them so we have been friends since we were kids. Unfortunately, we don't see each other a lot on Tour because we have such busy schedules and we are always travelling to different tournaments, but when we are playing in the same city, we always try to hang out. It's been great catching up with them here in Québec City and we are all at the top of our games right now so it's a lot of fun. Hopefully we can do well in front of our home crowd this week!
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Monday, September 14, 2009
Dear fans,
I'm excited to be back writing my second blog for the Challenge Bell in Québec City! I wrote my first blog for the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour here last year :)
After playing outdoors and reaching the third round at the US Open, I had to have an earlier indoor preparation, because this year the tournament is in September. In previous years it was at the end of October. I always love playing at home because I don't get the chance to do it too often, besides this tournament and the Rogers Cup. I always receive so much support from my fans, which definitely motivates me more to win this tournament for them!
I've done some activities already, one of which being a hockey face-off for our team, Les Remparts, at their first game. I went with Nadia Petrova and Severine Brémond. I think it brought them some luck - they WON :)
This year the blue court surface here has been redone, so it's a little bit slower, but it's still pretty fast. My first match will be tomorrow (Tuesday) night against Corinna Dentoni from Italy. I am looking forward to it and having fun on court tomorrow! I am playing doubles this week with my fashion partner, Bethanie Mattek-Stands from the USA... I love fashion and her style is so cool :)
I can't wait to hear from you all so please feel free asking me questions!
Love you all xo
Aleks
