New Australian tennis No.1 Daria Gavrilova admits heading to Wimbledon will be a little unnerving after the latest UK terrorist attack placed London on high alert.
Gavrilova plans on steering clear of crowded landmarks when she chases redemption at the grasscourt showpiece, starting on July 3, following her bitter-sweet ascension to that of Australia's top ranking women's player.
The 23-year-old ended Samantha Stosur's record 452-week reign as Australia's queen of the court, despite losing to the former grand slam champion in the Strasbourg final and then bombing out in the first round of the French Open.
Gavrilova is eager to atone with a Wimbledon run, but admits "it's a bit scary" going to London so soon after seven more people were killed and another 48 injured in the third terrorist attack of the year in Britain.
"I'm just going to avoid all the touristy places and stuff," Gavrilova told AAP after her Roland Garros campaign ended with a third-round doubles defeat with Russian partner Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Gavrilova will head "to England somewhere" on Tuesday to prepare for the grasscourt season and says it's important to put her poor Paris showing behind her.
"I'm disappointed still, a little hurt, about my singles. It will take me a while," said the world No.22.
"I actually just have to leave Paris and then I'll be over it and I'll focus on the grass.
"So hopefully I'll find somewhere to go to practice."
Despite her dejection about failing to make an impact on her favourite surface, Gavrilova is proud to have finally surpassed Stosur in the rankings.
"It's pretty cool to be called the new Aussie No.1," she said.
"It's not the way I wanted to become a No.1. Obviously I wanted to beat Sam and then win a few matches here and really deserve it.
"But I feel like in the past I probably did have better results than Sam in the last year or so and in terms of that I feel like I do deserve it.
"I'm excited and hopefully I can build on that."
Gavrilova will prepare for Wimbledon at lead-up events in Birmingham and Eastbourne and is confident of performing well.
"Last year I did win a round at every (grass) tournament I played and I got a set against Angie Kerber, who went on and made Wimbledon finals," she said.
"I just have to believe I can actually play on grass. People would say it's my least favourite but you never know and I feel like I can do some damage there as well."
Share
