THE PERSON
On the tour –
I've been on the pro tour for about a year and a half, last year was my first full season. I'm enjoying it so far, travelling all around, you get to play some of the nicest cities in the world and meet some interesting people. It's a great way to make a living because it's fun and enjoyable. Hopefully I can do this for 10 more years.
At home –
I just try to hang out with my friends when I can, go to the beach every now and again, I love playing ping pong, pretty much all sports. All my friends are athletes, so we'll play volleyball, basketball, football, just kind of mess around, do stuff like that most of the time.
It's mostly in November, December that I have some time. But when I'm home for a week, I'll take a day or two and try to hang out with my friends.
Goals in tennis –
This year, my two main goals [were] to win an ATP tournament and… to finish in the top 30.
Long term, obviously I'd love to win a Grand Slam and be No. 1 in the world someday, but first I want to accomplish these goals that I've set. It's more of a step-by-step thing for me. For other players it might be different, but for me it's that.
Goals post-tennis –
I hope it's something that'll just come along. I was going to go to USC [University of Southern California] and study business and play on the team, and do who-knows-what then, so that was kind of my plan before I did this.
Definitely, there's a good shot I'll [go back and] do that.
THE PLAYER
Game –
On my service games I try to be aggressive. I have a big serve, a big forehand. On my opponent's service games. I try to have some patience and be consistent and try to break down his serve.
Court presence –
[Being laid back] helps me and hurts me. Sometimes it helps me because I don't let things bother me a lot. But at other times can hurt me a lot because I don't get fired up at times as I should be.
Occasionally I'll get really into a match and give a lot of ‘C’mons.’ I'd like to do that more, and off the court I would never really express myself like that, but I'm hoping I can kind of implement that more in my tennis game. It helps me when I'm on the court.
Gear –
Racquet: I've used a Prince racquet since I was about 14. It's always been my racquet of choice. I signed a contract with them in 2006, and I've switched to the new o3 tech with the holes inside it. Every new batch I get, they feel awesome.
Shoes and clothes: I'm sponsored by Adidas… Shoes, most of the time I wear the Barricade, which is the most popular tennis shoe ever, I think. And I love the adidas clothes, it's a great company and it's fun to get the other stuff outside of tennis, the adidas basketball stuff.
Yeah, I'd love to do something cool with Adidas and kind of make something my own with the company. I'd try to go with an old-school, 1970s look or something crazy… I'd just do something out of the ordinary, but good.
**CREW
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Grant Doyle, coach –
I've worked with [him] for about 3 and a half years, since I was about 16. He's been a huge help. I wouldn't be where I am today if it hadn't been for him. He used to be a former pro, so knows the ropes. It’s nice having someone like that around, who's been to all the tournaments, knows where everything is, knows how to do everything. And very knowledgeable about the game. He helps me in every aspect of the game so he's been a huge help.
Parents, mom Chris and dad Mike –
They’re just supportive whatever I want to do. If I wanted to quit tennis today, they'd be fine. They're always there, they're my biggest fans.
They come to a lot of events, actually. But they come, they just do their own thing.
Friends, girlfriend –
They’re just huge supports. They always want me to do well.
Fans –
The ‘Samurais’ [fan club], it’s all my high school buddies. They'll do that, but usually they'll go out to Indian Wells, the tournaments in Southern California. They'll all be out there.
The most is when I play in LA and Indian Wells. At the LA Open a few years ago, I had about 500 people. All my friends from high school came, even people I really didn't know that well. And relatives, family, friends, they were all there.
I played on the outside stadium and they filled up the entire thing... 99 percent.
I love playing a night match with more people. The more people that are there, it's so much better for the sport, I think. Every basketball game in state is sold out, there's so many people. Hopefully tennis can become like that.