Welcome to the latest instalment of Kamilla Bartone’s blog. The 18-year-old enjoyed a successful junior career and claimed the girls' doubles title alongside Oksana Selekhmeteva at the 2019 US Open. Despite the challenges which 2020 presented, Kamilla won her first professional title in November. She is writing regular pieces for the ITF, providing insight into life as an aspiring player.

It’s very important to have interests outside of tennis otherwise you would go crazy.

I cannot talk about tennis 24/7 and, when I am with my friends, it only takes up about 20 per cent of the conversation. One of my big passions in life is fashion and if I were not a tennis player, I would love to be a fashion designer. I just love fashion and like to dress well and have nice makeup.

Not long ago, I also found that I like interior design and that I was watching a lot of shows on television where people came up with some wonderful layouts.

I have probably got this from my mum. She was in charge of the interior design for our apartment in Riga and has amazing taste – she is a real role model for me and we have so much in common.

Weirdly, though, I don’t tend to watch many fashion shows, I prefer to follow trends on Instagram and TikTok; all of my feeds contain the latest trends and ideas. For me, it is important to look good off court and be well-maintained.

There are so many great designers out there, but my favourites are Valentino and Versace. In fact, I am currently watching a Netflix series about the assassination of Gianni Versace which also details his life. The success he had is very inspiring.

Looking to the future, I would absolutely love to design tennis clothes someday, maybe even casual garments too. It would be so cool to have my own fashion label or brand and I guess that is something to aim for.

Perhaps my interest in fashion grew through tennis as those two worlds definitely overlap. Right now, everyone looks at what a tennis player is wearing and, of course, many tournaments have parties where you can wear an evening dress and put on amazing makeup!

Talking of off-court commitments, I am in my last year of school and I am so happy that I will be graduating soon. I am also grateful that my school has agreed for me do my exams in the summer when I’m back in Latvia.

It’s so nice of them to allow me to do this because with my tennis schedule, it is very difficult to combine playing tennis with studying and getting good grades. In any case, I am yet to find a tennis player who loves studying!

Turning to tennis, I was forced to withdraw from last week’s W15 event in Antalya. Hopefully, the injury I picked up is not too bad and after a few more recovery days I should be back on court.

I had reached the second round and was facing Ilay Yoruk of Turkey when injury stuck, which was particularly disappointing as I feel I am playing some really good tennis at the moment and could have progressed further.

Towards the end of April, I navigated qualifying and reached the third round at W25 Oeiras. I really enjoyed being in Lisbon as it was good weather and the organisation by tournament officials was superb.

I also played well there and had some good matches, which gave me confidence to play my game. Always when I go on court, I don’t think who is in front of me, I concentrate only on my own game and, if I do, I feel as though I can compete, and beat, anyone.

In fact, I was concentrating so much on my own game and what I needed to do that I didn’t realise until writing this blog that Czech Republic’s Jesika Maleckova, who I overcame in the second round, is the highest-ranked played I have defeated in my career.

When I faced Jesika, she was No. 298 in the world and even though I didn’t appreciate her ranking at the time, such victories give me confidence and motivation to work harder and improve my weaknesses.

In tennis, anything is possible. You have to work hard, believe in yourself and never give up and that is what I will be doing over the coming months – a period I’m really looking forward to.

In the build-up to and during the summer, there are lots of tournaments scheduled with plenty of ranking points available. My hope is that my ranking improves from its current No. 657 and that I am able to enter more W25 events.

I have mainly competed at W15 events this year, but a W25, like in Oeiras, is a different level and a better experience – that is the aim going forward and where I want to be.

I will be working hard to make that happen, so fingers crossed it does. Either way, I look forward to updating you on progress in the coming weeks.