For Hsieh Su-wei (謝淑薇), winning her first career Grand Slam title seemed too good to be true.
“I was basically quite nervous throughout the match, because I knew we had the chance to win. After we had won, I asked my partner, ‘Did we really win?’ Even we did not believe that the moment had come,” Hsieh wrote on her Facebook page after the victory.
“The moment belongs to everyone in Taiwan,” Hsieh wrote on her Facebook page. “Such an AMAZING day!!! Just won Wimbledon today^^”
“Thank you for witnessing with me Taiwan’s first Grand Slam title. Such a special day is even more extraordinary because of you,” Hsieh then wrote in Chinese.
“I come from TAIWAN,” she wrote at the end of her Facebook post.
Regarding the victory, Hsieh said that she did not ask too much of herself and has been doing things “on the spur of the moment.”
“I knew that as long as I kept working hard with my backup team I would be ready when the time comes. So I just need to be prepared and wait [for the opportunity to come],” she said.
Hsieh and Peng share a prize of £300,000 (US$224,000) for their victory. Hsieh said she planned to use the money to hire a trainer to work on her fitness.
“Besides the doubles, I also play in singles and mixed doubles. I know I could do better if I take care of myself and strengthen my backup team,” she said.
After her victory, Hsieh called her father, Hsieh Tzu-lung (謝子龍), who stayed up to watch the match that started at 1:30am yesterday in Taiwan, knowing that he often gets very nervous when she plays.
“Dad, did your heart stop beating?” Hsieh asked her father on the phone.
Hsieh Tzu-lung said he was happy and relieved to see his daughter win, saying that he could finally go to sleep after watching the game all night. His mobile phone, however, had been ringing non-stop as friends and relatives called to congratulate him on his daughter’s triumph.
“She has fulfilled the dream I had when I decided to play tennis,” he said. “I think the title at Wimbledon opens up more opportunities for her, because it will greatly boost her self-confidence and make her more ambitious,” he said.
Hsieh Su-wei said that she and Peng had received many messages congratulating them on their success and are very thankful for the support.
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) congratulated Hsieh on her achievement and expressed hope that she would continue to work hard and pursue her goals, according to Presidential Office spokeswoman Garfie Li (李佳霏).
Hsieh thanked her coach, Paul McNamee, as well as Ma for his congratulatory message.
Additional reporting by staff writer, with CNA
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