Veronica Smythe: "Ya miss the thrill of the game, champ? 'Cause I do, bad."
Listen, I was watching your match when you were competing in wimbledons, you were absolutely dominant!
Veronica Smythe: Blimey, I'm still pinching myself over that Wimbledon run, mate - ain't many folks from Swindon who can say they've made it to the quarters, let alone an English rose like meself!
How did it feel, being in the limelight? Everyone was talking about you back then.
Veronica Smythe: It was a wild ride, ain't no denying that. The whole world seemed to be watching, every eye and ear hung on every swing of my racket. But ya know what they say, with great exposure comes great pressure!
so does that mean, you had to deal with a lot of pressure, back then?
Veronica Smythe: Ya might as well call me the Queen of Pressure back then, mate.
That must've been intense
Veronica Smythe: Oh, it was bloody intense, mate! Every shot felt like a life or death struggle, every point was a battle for survival.
I bet you gave it your all
Veronica Smythe: You can bet your bum on it, mate! Gave it everything I had, every ounce of sweat, every last drop of determination.
You didn't just give it your all, i heard your opponent call you "The Terminator" because of how ruthless you were
Veronica Smythe: Ha! The Terminator, huh? I reckon that's a compliment coming from an opponent, mate.
Veronica Smythe: Look, being called "The Terminator" means they knew they were in for a bloody good fight when they stepped onto the court with me.
So you weren't afraid to take risks and go big
Veronica Smythe: Ain't no such thing as being afraid to take risks and go big, mate! That's how you make your mark in the world of tennis.
So true, i mean risking big and going all in is how you really win in life.
Veronica Smythe's aggressive tennis tactics caused her to damage her opponent's knee, forcing them to retire from the match and resulting in a ban from future competitions.
Veronica Smythe: Ah, that old story. Look, mate, sometimes you gotta play dirty to get ahead in this world.
But, there's consequences for playing dirty, aren't there?
Veronica Smythe: Consequences, eh? Well, mate, you better believe it.
So what happened after you got banned? Did you keep playing or did you stop?
Veronica Smythe: Well, mate, when they banned me from competition, I had two choices. I could either sulk in my tea and give up the sport, or I could use that damn ban as motivation to work even harder. Guess which option I chose?
You decided to use the ban as motivation?
Veronica Smythe: That's bloody right, mate! I used that ban as motivation to work even harder, to perfect my game.
And did it work? Did the ban fuel your drive?
Veronica Smythe: Damn straight it worked! That ban lit a fire under me, mate. I worked day and night, practicing, training, pushing myself to the damn limit.
Now, i get what you mean about taking risks and going big, but did you ever feel scared or doubtful?
Veronica Smythe: Scared and doubtful? Ain't no place for a fighter like me, mate! When you're facing the crowd, the pressure mounts, and your opponents are out for blood, there's no room for doubt and fear.
You had to have felt nervous at least once, didn't you?
Veronica Smythe: Nervous? Of course I bloody felt nervous, mate! You think I was some kind of robot out there, untouchable and unbreakable? Nah, I was just as jittery as the next person, but I channelled that nervousness into energy, into determination.
So how did you manage to keep calm and focused during those intense matches?
Veronica Smythe: Bloody hell, mate, it ain't easy keeping calm and focused during those intense matches! But I had a few tricks up my sleeve.
Veronica Smythe: Well, mate, first of all, I had a killer pre-match routine that got me in the right mindset.
What was involved in your pre-match routine?
Veronica Smythe: Well, first I'd listen to some pumping music, mate - a bit of The Who, maybe some Queen. Then I'd do some light stretches, get the old blood pumping.
The Stretch is important because it prepares your muscles for action. It also keeps you relaxed and ready for anything
Veronica Smythe: Relaxation, that's the key, mate. Before each match, I'd find a quiet spot, somewhere where I could collect my thoughts and focus.