In my own words: Bring On 2021, I’m fired and aiming to bring out some big goals

Needless to say, this year was crazy. And even though tennis was suspended, I didn’t take time for granted. Whether it’s being close to family and friends or even discovering new passions, it was actually quite a refreshing break from what I’m used to.

This year of uncertainty has provided me with some much needed time to indulge in things outside of tennis. I started a foundation in Melbourne. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time now. The idea behind it is to provide disadvantaged children with a path to get back on track. They may be addicted to drugs, have some problems at home, or something completely different, but this foundation wants to help those children.

They deserve it. They deserve the opportunity to be active, play sports and enjoy life. Playing tennis continuously for seven or eight years doesn’t leave you much free time – ask my loved ones. So while I have this free time, being practical and giving back to the community through my foundation is my number one priority.

Now, when I’m not working on my foundation or training on the pitch, there is a little hobby that helps me take over after a long day. Like many people, I play PlayStation a lot in my spare time. So partnering with a company as big as them to help launch the new PlayStation 5 was a dream come true. It is something that has always fascinated me. Growing up, I was a great player and that love for it certainly hasn’t waned as we age.

I don’t want to throw people under the bus here revealing who I whipped online, but one thing I will say is that I love playing with one guy in particular: Boston Celtics’ Gordon Hayward – he’s a top guy.

There are a lot of famous NBA players who are great players, so I don’t mind teaching them a lesson or two from time to time. I am a good friend with Giannis Antetokounmpo but I have yet to convince him to get into video games. It will come, it will come.

But on a personal level, the game has always been fun for me. I think it helps me relax, but it also encourages people to connect with others you wouldn’t normally interact with. Especially in these strange times, human interaction matters and play is just one way to do it.

As part of my role with PlayStation, I had early access to the PS5. Nobody had it except a few lucky selected around the world. And I was one of them. Let me tell you, it’s crazy. The new technology surrounding the controller alone is extremely impressive. You literally feel the immersive tactile feedback as you move across different terrains, making the game more immersive. And dynamic adaptive triggers make the gameplay even more realistic as you can feel the tension in the controller.

Even when I was playing on my PS4, I often wondered how the hell they would improve the next console. Like, how was this possible? But the PlayStation team did somehow. Honestly, I can’t wait for everyone to get one, you won’t want to stop.

I’m a Call of Duty guy too. This is my game. I’ve been playing it since I was a teenager, so I’ve seen it evolve over the years. From the different consoles to the various versions, it’s crazy to see how far it has come and how it has evolved into the powerful game it is today. I recently took on UFC featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski in a Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War match. I won’t go into too much detail on the outcome, but let’s just say that Alex should be limited to being a mixed martial artist. Cannot fault his effort. I didn’t talk to him too much though, I didn’t like being put in some kind of stuffy hold.

Looking ahead, the Australian summer of tennis is definitely in my sights, but only if it’s done correctly. If we can take a cue from the NBA book and introduce some sort of bubble or hub, then I’ll be there. With this in place, we should be able to attract some of the big international names who will feel much safer living in a COVID-free zone. At the moment I’m in full training and I’m ready to go. I miss the races, but at the same time I know that I will probably never have this kind of free time to be home again. And while I have it, I want to spend time with my family and friends and work on my foundation.

And, I can also say, I can’t wait to come face to face with some of my fellow competitors when I finally return. On and off the pitch, I have never been afraid to hold people accountable for their actions. When I’m wrong, I’ll always raise my hands and apologize. The same cannot be said for a couple of other tennis players (cough cough). They know who they are. When we finally get back to the competition, I’m excited to draw one. Take it. I know I’m ready.