Mr BioFile Interviews by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
Status: WTA tennis pro. 2024 Miami Open champion. Currently ranked WTA no. 22 in the world, the Bradenton resident has won two WTA singles titles in her career and her highest ranking no. 7. She frequently trains at IMG Academy and Harrison Tennis Academy in Bradenton.
DOB: December 13, 1993 In: St. Petersburg, FL
Ht: 5-10 Wt: 130
First Tennis Memory: “Crawling on the court when my dad (Wally) would play his league matches. (age?) Probably like one or two.”
Tennis Inspirations: “Martina Hingis. The Williams sisters. Anna Kournikova. Who else…Caroline Wozniacki. Maria Sharapova. Andre Agassi.”
Last Book Read: “Ghosted.”
Nickname: “Danimal.”
First Famous Player You Met or Encountered: “Justine Henin at Saddlebrook (age 10).”
Pre-Match Feeling: “I always tell myself I’m the best. Even if I’m not I lie to myself that I am [laughs]. You gotta believe, right?”
Greatest Career Moments: “Australian Open finals (2022). First WTA title (Palermo 2021). Beating Venus Williams (at Miami Open). Pretty cool.”
Most Painful Moment: “…painful moment…probably having wrist surgery after I won NCAA my sophomore year.”
Current Car: “I drive an Audi Q3 (white).”
Favorite Tournaments: “Indian Wells, Fed Cup and Australian Open.”
Funniest Players Encountered: “Madison Brengle for sure…Christian Harrison.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Mint chocolate chip.”
Funny Tennis Memory: “There’s a lot. We’re always laughing out here… that’s a good question…probably falling on my face in Wuhan. Bad fall. Really bad fall.”
Strangest Match: “Playing Sonia Kenin in a semifinal in Norman, Oklahoma. Really windy. And all the referee’s chairs were flying around the court. Ridiculous. (Who won?) I did.”
Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “Hockey.”
Three Athletes You Like To Watch: “Lebron James…I’m just not like a fan person. Alex Killorn from hockey.”
Why Do You Love Tennis: “I love tennis because I think competition makes everyone better. And I love embracing the challenge of competition.”
Fiercest Competitors Encountered: “…I think Coco Vandeweghe.”
Closest Tennis Friends: “Madison Brengle. Tom Fawcett. Sonia Kenin. Allison Riske. Nicole Melichar. Who else…that’s about it.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “Enthusiastic. Witty. And honest.”
Which Match(es) Were You At Your Best: “There’s been a lot of good ones…(Maybe it hasn’t happened yet?)…Hasn’t happened yet. Good option [smiles].”
Photo from Miami Open.
