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.