Aussie favourite Daria Saville reflects on the importance of setting goals on the practice court in our “Train with the Pros’ series.
Melbourne, Australia, 29 March 2024 | Jackson Mansell
After making a promising start to the 2024 season, Daria Saville is verging on a top-100 return.
The 30-year-old, who began the year ranked world No.208, has tallied six top-100 victories and advanced to two WTA singles quarterfinals.
These are encouraging results for the former world No.20, who returned last year from her second knee surgery.
Saville’s efforts have been rewarded with selection in the Australian team to face Mexico in a Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier tie in Brisbane next month.
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In our Train with the Pros series, Saville reveals why she finds Billie Jean King Cup training sessions the most daunting …
Do you have a favourite time to practice?
I think I’m a morning person, like most athletes, because I like to get on with my non-tennis life in the afternoons or later in the day. That’s if I’m at home. Honestly if I’m on the road I almost don’t care when I train, because I don’t have many things other than tennis to do. Unless we are in a very nice, tourist place like in Rome, then it would be nice to go for a little stroll in the city.
How many hours, on average, would you spend on the practice court?
I average about two to two-and-a-half hours a day, six times a week.
Do you have a favourite part of your game to work on?
To be honest, I think point play is my favourite. I get competitive.
Do you have a least favourite part of your game to work on?
Maybe serving, I find it boring but it’s very needed.
Who are your favourite players to practice with?
I would say Sam Stosur. I always loved practising with her. She’s always been one of my mentors, someone I could always talk to about my tennis or even about my mental health. I always had to be on because of her intensity. With her forehand and how heavy she would hit the ball, I always had to be 100 per cent on. I always felt I had to do a really good warm-up and get myself mentally prepared that it’s going to be a tough session.
I also like training with Storm Hunter and Daria Kasatkina. I probably hit with Kasatkina at almost every event. If we play at the same events, we’ll probably have a hit.
Can you recall any training sessions you were particularly nervous…
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