Twenty days ago my physio asked me if I was if I never think that I can win a Grand Slam or be in final of Grand Slam, and I said no.
I'm not the first player to have their home Grand Slam and not perform. There have been a few Australians and French players, you name it. It's a tough thing. But it is one of those things. Would I rather have a Grand Slam in my country than not? I would.
I'm not that good a player, and I'll be the first to admit that. I might be a three or four grand-slam winner; I might be a two grand-slam winner, I don't know.
I still think that I'm dreaming. It's a strange feeling. I always try to watch the final of Grand Slams because that's where the best players are playing. ... I never expected to play a final. I never expected to win a Grand Slam. And right now I just did it.
This will be my first Grand Slam final without Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic on the other side of the net, but I don't think being the more experienced player will make much difference to my approach.
It's not easy getting to a Grand Slam final.
I feel a lot of confidence from that memory, playing final first time in Grand Slam. But also I always think that I could play a little better in a final. I lost straight sets. I didn't do well.
Every match I won in a Grand Slam, I take confidence of that, and when I arrive in a final, I know my game is there.
I've been there, done that. I know what the emotions are getting into your first Grand Slam final.
I am really proud of other things in my career: being in the top five, reaching the final of a grand slam twice. I'm actually even more proud of making it to the French Open final in 2010 than the previous year.
Reaching my first grand slam final was amazing, and I didn't expect it at just 19 years old.
Even when I was a little kid, I always dreamed that I would play Serena in a final of a Grand Slam.
A final of a grand slam is always a matter of details. Maybe a point here, a point there will make the difference. Maybe someone who is a bit more gutsy than the other player, someone who is having a better day than the others.
Obviously, to win title, go in Grand Slam semi-final, is always super positive and good.
I don't think any player will miss a grand slam if they can play.
One thing that is 100% certain is that emotions are always incredibly high in a match and, I would imagine, definitely more so in a grand slam final.