Some athletes use caffeine to boost their energy levels. What’s your approach?

I do drink caffeinated coffee, and I often joke to people that a lot of the successes I’ve had are down to that. Two hours is a long time to concentrate on a small white ball, so I like to use it as a tool before training to help myself feel more alert and engaged. I also enjoy the social aspect of spending time with my teammates and friends with a coffee and catching up. At university, coffee is handy during deadline season.

Talking about energy, does sleep play a big role in your recovery?

I usually get around eight hours sleep most nights, and that feels optimum for me. However, around my period I can struggle with extra fatigue so I might try to get an extra hour or have a power nap in the day otherwise I can suffer with brain fog which makes the speed of table tennis feel tricky.

When you’ve got a big competition coming up, how do you prepare?

On the day of a big match I like to give myself plenty of time to take it steady so I feel relaxed, calm and ready to get into the right mindset on the table. I’ll get up a little earlier than I need to, have my morning coffee while I’m getting ready and then take some time to do the mobility exercises our physio gives us, so our bodies are moving well before we get started. I also look at video footage of my opponent to help visualise my plan for the match. I like to feel I’ve ticked all the boxes to give myself the best chance of performing well, so this little routine helps me feel confident and mentally ready.

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