Andrea Petkovic is riding a happy, confident wave into her 30s

WATCH—Petkovic talks about her win over Stephens in D.C.:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Andrea Petkovic is one of the most relatable and multifaceted personalities on tour. Sitting down with her is somehow both relaxing and challenging as she tells her story eloquently with a generous dose of self-awareness.

Her level of depth makes sense as the 30-year-old is a half-Serbian, half-Bosnian that was raised in Germany. She’s lived the glamorous life of a Top 10 star, but also endured the grind outside of the Top 100 at multiple stages in her 12-year career. The result is a blended personality that’s vibrant and outgoing off the court, while serious and driven by structure on it.

"With every immigrant probably you don't feel 100 percent at home either way," she told TENNIS.com. “I just view it as like if you ask a parent that has two kids, which one do you like more? It's difficult to answer. Both are a part of me."

That perfect way of explaining herself—to a member of the press, no less—is what's so unique about Petkovic. She’s got a remarkable way of looking at the world, and the good news for everyone is she's been getting her thoughts out to the world.

She’s regularly publishing columns for a German magazine, as well as contributing to Racquet Magazine. Her usual topics are books, art and films, not forehands and backhands. A passionate reader, her first published column weaved Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

"I like to write essays and background stories, and get into things," Petkovic said. "I really work on my sentences and try to take my time."

Understandably, she wants to pursue writing when she’s done swinging a racquet. It won’t be in media, even though she’s a natural on television.

"I definitely want to do a creative writing course—preferably at a nice university,” Petkovic said. “I don't want to stay in sports necessarily. I think that is something that can be quite limiting. I want to explore outside my comfort zone."

For now, tennis is still taking up the vast majority of her time. On Wednesday in Washington, Petkovic scored her biggest win since 2016 by taking out world No. 3 Sloane Stephens, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.

WATCH—Highlights from Petkovic's win over Stephens:

The world No. 91 wasn’t surprised by the upset. She feels that she can beat the best players because she was one of them. Petkovic has been inside the Top 10 on two occasions, first in 2011 and again in 2015. She has struggled with a full caveat of hurdles including injuries, coaching changes, an overpacked schedule and obsessing over the wrong goals.

Her ranking obviously isn’t where it should be, but her mind isn’t on the numbers anymore.

“That's why I'm playing better this year,” she said. “Once you drop it’s actually a lot easier. Once you're back up there every tournament can make you drop out of the Top 100, it can cost you the main draw of Slams. I was constantly stressed and I was constantly trying to get more points.

“I was never focused on my game and what I want to improve. I was just focused on traveling stupidly all over the world.”

Her improved scheduling and mindset can be credited to her age and a switch to a new, all-Serbian team. Turning 30 is a milestone full of negative stigma, particularly for women who feel the pressure of their biological clocks ticking.

“For me the most difficult phase was when I was 28, 29,” Petkovic said. “That's the phase, especially as a woman, where you'd like, OK do I want to have a family? It's getting late. What do I want from life?”

But instead of it getting worse at 30, it got better.

“When I turned 30, that's when I calmed down,” the German said “I don't know if it was the age or a phase I needed to go through.”

Though unsure of how much longer she'll play, Petkovic is happy with how her tennis is progressing, and more confident than ever with who she is.

“I just sort of have gotten over my ego a little bit,” she said. “I’m maybe more confident with who I am and more assured with who I am. That gives me just a much more balanced way of looking at life.”

ATP & WTA Washington D.C.

Catch all the action from the Citi Open with live coverage from three courts on Tennis Channel Plus beginning Monday, July 30th at 2:00 PM ET. All matches also available on-demand.