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is going to help and, coming from him, I always take it positively. "I never question whether he's saying something right or wrong and he never says something just to make me happy. For me, having him in my family is a pleasure. "He watched a few of my matches last year in Acapulco [Zarazua reached the semi- finals of the WTA event] and gave me some advice. He was super happy with my performance but said he felt more nervous watching me than when he used to play." During the last year, Zarazua has been chalking up the milestones on behalf of her nation, and at Acapulco in February 2020, she became the first Mexican woman to reach the last four at a WTA Tour event since 1993. Incidentally, Zarazua posted the best victory of her career there, in the opening round against then-world No. 37 and former Grand Slam champion Sloane Stephens, who topped the podium at the 2017 US Open. Eight months later she became just the fourth female player from her country in the Open Era to compete in the main draw of a Grand Slam – at Roland Garros, where she lost to Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in "Another big goal is the Olympics. I hope I get to represent Mexico, that would be a big thing for me. To win a medal for Mexico would be a dream come true. "I'm a very dedicated person and always like to achieve my goals on and off court. Tennis is a sport where you have to make many sacrifices but at the end it's definitely worth it. "I just want to improve and get better every day. That's what has brought me to where I am today." Previously describing herself as "very easy going off court but a changed character on it", there are many contributing factors and strands to Zarazua's progress, not least a huge amount of talent. But she is keen to adopt a more holistic approach and one aspect of personal and professional development which she takes incredibly seriously is athlete psychology, a subject she has immersed herself in. "The mental game and mental health play a big role in the sport," said Zarazua, who has been the grateful recipient of a Grand Slam Player Grant, financed through the Grand Slam Development Fund, every year since their introduction in 2017. "Once you can control your mind then everything else flows. I'm still in the process of getting mentally stronger and reading about this subject is one of the things that's been helping me. It also helps you kill some free time when you have it so it's a nice hobby. "I also read athlete blogs and I find that most of what the athletes think and share is that if you work hard and do the right things then your time will come sooner or later. "They all share the same thoughts in different ways so you just have to find what's the second round. By defeating France's Elsa Jacquemot on the Parisian clay in round one, Zarazua became the first Mexican woman to win a Grand Slam main draw match since Angelica Gavaldon at the Australian Open 20 years earlier. In the aftermath of overcoming home favourite Jacquemot, Zarazua summed up the importance of the victory by suggesting, "it's not only a win, it means even more than that". In a bid to continue the momentum from an impressive 2020, one of Zarazua's stated goals for 2021 is to break the top 100 which, if achieved, would see her become the first Mexican to do so this century. The last to achieve the feat was Gavaldon in June 1996. "My No. 1 goal is to get into the top 100 this year," said Zarazua, who is also a keen golfer. "I'm not far from the top 100 – I'm close – but I need to keep working and improving. I can't sit and relax and hope I make it. I know I have to work on a lot of things. "I'd also love to win a WTA tournament, have good results at the Grand Slams and just keep improving every day. the best way to learn it so it works for you. "Like I say, there are a lot of things that I still have to improve. I think that's also a good thing because knowing that I have to get better on court and off court, it's what keeps me motivated in my career. "A big thing for me is enjoying being on court. It's one of the things that helps me a lot. I think sometimes tennis can be very tough and trying to stay calm and positive, that's key for me." Another chance to showcase her own ability and that of her nation on the international stage beckons, with Zarazua and Mexico due in London for their Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Play-off clash with Great Britain. The showdown at the National Training Centre in Roehampton is set to be Zarazua's 15th appearance for her nation, having made her debut against Bolivia in an Americas Group I clash in 2015. During the intervening period, her sense of national service has only been enhanced. "I'm very excited. It's one of my favourite moments when I play for my country," said Zarazua. "I think we have a great team this year and we will do our best to win against Great Britain. "Playing for my country and representing Mexico means a lot to me. We are used to playing only for ourselves throughout the year so when the time comes to represent and play for your flag, it's just a different feeling. I love playing for my country." For Zarazua, opportunity once again knocks to raise that Mexican tennis standard. n ITF World Spring 2021 17 BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

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