I did always dream of being a professional player. I think every kid does dream of being a pro, but to last the journey you have to love tennis as a sport and if you are lucky enough to make it in the pros, it is really a bonus.
I'm not the savior of men's tennis in America. I'm just a kid trying to win a few matches.
I started in a very small tennis club in a South American country where I never thought about becoming the best tennis player.
I obviously wasn't a normal tennis story.
To be in the top 10 for the first time, it's like a dream. When you start to play tennis, it's something you think about.
One day my dad would say, 'OK, if you want to play tennis I can help you out.' And that's how it started. And I had a goal. I wanted to beat my mom first. And my parents and my brother. And that was the ultimate goal.
It doesn't really matter who I turn pro with. What matters is where I take my tennis.
Growing up I wasn't the richest, but I had a rich family in spirit. Standing here with 19 championships is something I never thought would happen. I went on a court just with a ball and a racket and with a hope.
Tennis has given me this wonderful life and I'm very grateful for it.
I'm trying to enjoy my lie as much as I can and I know that tennis hopefully is going to be my life the next 10, 15 years.
