Sam Groth and Nicole Gibbs are giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional tennis all year long in My Tennis Life. To read more updates from Sam and Nicole, go to tennischannel.com.

Checking in after a tough first-round loss on Saturday in Cincy. After a good start, I lost steam and allowed myself to be outplayed—not the start to my East Coast swing that I had hoped for! However, after a long post-match team meeting, I left the site feeling a renewed sense of positivity and hopefulness for what’s left of the US Open Series.

My next move from here is a bit up in the air. Normally, after a loss, you pack up and head to the next tournament. However, I can’t be certain whether my next stop will be New Haven or New York. Because I did not receive a main-draw bid into the US Open, I will linger in Cincy for a few extra days of practice before heading to NYC to prepare. If I had been granted a wild card, I would have gone to New Haven for one last tournament before the big show.

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While I had hoped to receive direct entry in New York, I recognize that my ranking alone did not earn me that luxury this time around. The ultimate goal is for me to reach a level where I no longer need to rely on charity for entry into the world’s biggest events. But, for now, I am placing my faith in the fact that my hard work will see me through to the main draw. I can’t wait to get back to my favorite tournament on earth.

My Tennis Life:
Nicole Gibbs unsure
of her next move

My Tennis Life: Nicole Gibbs unsure of her next move

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