Laura Bailey: How old were you when you started to believe that tennis could be your path?
Mika Stojsavljevic: I was around six when I started playing tennis, at the Park Club in Acton. I always loved playing, but began taking it seriously at around 13, when I started to realise that the attributes I had in my game could become a great weapon and an advantage on the court. Up until the age of 13 or 14 I was also playing hockey, swimming, skiing… doing all the sports available to me.
Who were your heroes growing up?
Novak Djokovic, Maria Sharapova and Garbine Muguruza. I think the way Djokovic fights is so admirable, and his drive to keep getting better, even now at 39, shows another level of commitment and love for the game. I admire both Sharapova and Muguruza for the way they conducted themselves on court: no emotions, holding their heads high, classy and elegant. This is something that I would love to achieve one day, to keep my emotions silent.
Off the court, as most girls would say, my mum is my biggest hero. She works very hard every day to help my siblings and I fulfill our dreams.
How do you balance your training and match schedule with studying?
I think it’s a great privilege to have the opportunity to continue with my education, and I also think that the A-levels that I have chosen – politics and English literature – are incredibly resonant with the culture and the world now. My studies also give me a chance to switch off from tennis and think about the here and now of life – the world, how it’s changing, and how it all affects our lives.
What are your passions outside of tennis?
Reading is a great passion of mine, it allows me to immerse myself in different worlds. The last book I read was The Kite Runner, as part of my A-level course. It was very moving, and different from anything I’ve ever read before.
Who are your favourite artists, and what music do you listen to to get in the zone?
It depends on my mood. I love country music, like Randy Rogers or Zach Bryan, and then I enjoy something more upbeat, like Rihanna. So it definitely depends on the emotions of that day.
