Ms. Petković, you write in your new book that your success has made you an asshole. What was going on? At least in the meantime. In 2011, after the Australian Open, just one little thing was enough to make me freak out. I was constantly irritable, but I’m actually not moody. The reason was the enormous pressure that I was under – or that I had probably imposed on myself. When I was among the best, I expected myself to beat the best.
They were among the top nine in the world rankings. Why didn’t that make you happy? I grew up watching Hollywood films and had the naive idea that at some point in my life there would come this one moment that would change everything. Then you’re successful, I thought, then you have money, then you’re happy. What happened? I became successful, I earned good money, but I didn’t feel any different than before. Success didn’t improve anything for me except that I had more money. He didn’t make me happy. That was the shocking realization for me: Success alone doesn’t change anything. Not inside. You also have to develop personally, outside of the pitch.
Conversely, that would mean: You don’t have to be afraid of failing, because success doesn’t make you happy anyway.
Access to all STERN PLUS content and articles from the print magazine
ad-free
Already registered?
