Chapter 9 felt like it wanted to be written sooner than this weekend, so here it is. I've had some encouraging feedback this past week, and even managed to hit one hundred follows for this story. Woot woot! Thank you for your reviews everyone. I hope to hear back from a majority of you after this new chapter.

Just one thing before I hit the update button - I have received some feedback and private messages asking me whether this was a Faberry story since I haven't mentioned any attraction between the two just yet. The answer is yes, it is a Faberry story, but one that will build slowly. I don't believe that attraction has to be immediate or mutual, and am crafting my story in a manner that I think is realistic. I hope you, my readers, understand.

Happy reading :)

Rachel wrapped a towel around her still damp hair, and settled down on top of the bed. She was freshly showered after a hardcore ninety-minute workout in the players-only gymnasium at Crandon Park, and had some time to kill before lunch.

The brunette reached for the day's copy of the Miami Herald that was lying on top of her pillow, and was half-surprised to see a mini collage of Quinn sitting beside Finn Hudson at what appeared to be a basketball game on the front page. Rachel quickly scanned the caption below the collage, which read 'Tennis star Quinn Fabray and her rumoured boyfriend, Dolphins star Finn Hudson, sit courtside at last night's Heat versus Hawks game. (Check pg. 8 for an exclusive interview with the top ranked player).'

Rachel quickly flipped through to page eight, where she was met with the sight of Quinn waving to the crowd after her fourth round win at the Miami Open yesterday afternoon. The picture had clearly been picked on purpose, since it featured the Dolphins offensive guard in the background, cheering for Quinn alongside Russell and Sue. Rachel's eyes lingered on the picture for a couple of moments before she began to read the article.

Quinn Lucy Fabray is the modern definition of a tennis champ – fit, focused and formidable. The World No. 1's almost unrivalled game and her movie star good looks have turned her into a global superstar, with over five million followers on Twitter alone. The Herald's Sangeeta Ankalikar sat down with the Miami-native for an exclusive one-on-one chat.

Sangeeta Ankalikar – Thank you for taking the time to talk to us at the Miami Herald.

Quinn Fabray – Oh, it's fine. I live to give interviews! (laughs)

SA – Interview after interview. Isn't that the life of a modern tennis star, with matches squeezed in where possible?

QF – (nodding) Pretty much. I mean, apart from post-match interviews there are media obligations when you travel to a new city for a tournament, and then photo op's and interviews that your sponsors set up … So yeah, it's a lot of talking.

SA – You're forgetting the talking you have to do on court when you win a tournament. Something that you've been doing a lot of over the last few years…

QF – Yes, speeches. Where you invariably forget to mention someone. (laughs)

SA – I'm surprised you haven't started writing your speeches in advance if that's the case.

QF – (shaking her head) No, that would be way too presumptuous. Believe me, there are no easy wins on tour. And I'm positive I'd stop winning immediately if I wrote speeches before stepping on court.

SA – Fair enough. So you say there are no easy wins. Is that because the level of play on the WTA tour has improved?

QF – It's a lot of things really. Players are fitter now than they were even, say, ten years ago. We have specialists that tell us how to get the best out of our bodies, what exercises we should be doing, the ones we shouldn't be, what we can and cannot eat, ... The physicality of the sport has completely changed. And so has the equipment. I mean, look at the things Sue (Quinn's coach, Sue Sylvester) can do with a modern tennis racket. She started out winning tournaments with a wooden racket, and terrorized her opponents with the power on her shots. Even now, she gives me a run for my money during some of our practice sessions. So yes, the level of play has definitely improved, thanks largely to an improvement in all the supporting factors.

SA – Have you ever tried using a wooden racket?

QF – (laughing) Yes. It wasn't pretty.

SA – Let's talk about rivalries on tour. Are there a lot of catfights behind closed doors?

QF – Oh, no! I mean yes, there's the occasional locker room argument, but no, I personally haven't seen any catfights! Gosh, do people really think it's the Real Tennis Players of the WTA back there?

SA – No, but you should pitch that idea. I can see networks lapping it up.

QF – (laughs) No thanks.

SA – Your loss. Ok, so I believe you about the catfights. What about rivalries?

QF – Rivalries are part and parcel of the game. And I think tennis would be boring without rivalries. Sampras-Agassi, Nadal-Federer, Pillsbury-Corcoran, these were healthy rivalries that defined generations of tennis.

SA – It seems like you and Lopez might be on your way to joining that legendary list of rivalries.

QF – (nodding) I hope we do. Santana and I have been competing against one another for almost a decade now, from back when we were juniors training at the same academy. Sometimes I think she knows my game better than I do, and vice versa. And that's part of what makes it such a challenge playing against her. She's also my best friend in the world, and I hope we get to play at least another ten years of high quality matches against each other before our times up.

SA – Yes, your friendship is quite intriguing. It's not often that elite sportsmen that compete against one another on a regular basis are such good friends.

QF – (shrugging) I don't see why they can't be. Truth be told, anyone could watch hours of footage of my matches and know my game as well as Santana does. Well, maybe not as well, since she knows me well enough to know what goes on inside my head too. But, you get my point. I like to think I'm friends with most players on tour.

SA – Well, your fellow players certainly seem to speak highly of you. You've even started to earn a reputation as a mentor of sorts to some up and comers.

QF – I remember watching Federer at his peak, spending time talking to players that had just transitioned to the ATP tour. I was still a junior at the time, but I remember listening to some of the guys that I knew gushing about how kind he was. And I think that stuck with me. If I can help someone, then why not? Tennis can be a tough sport, and most players that are starting out can't afford to travel with anyone and get lonely. A kind word from someone that they sort of look up to can go a long way in that kind of situation.

SA – Do you also help them with their game?

QF – Sure, if someone wants advice on a shot then I'm happy to help. Or if they want to have a hit at a tournament and I can manage it, then yeah.

SA – And what happens if these players that you're helping, guiding, go on to beat you?

QF – Then they were probably the better player on the day, and deserved to win.

The door to the hotel room opened, distracting Rachel from her reading. She looked up to see Brittany walking in, and dropping her racket bag by the door.

"Tough loss today Brit" Rachel said, giving her friend a sympathetic smile.

"Thanks Rach" Brittany said, smiling. "I'm really happy I made the quarters, so all in all, this has been a great week."

Her friend's positive attitude never failed to amaze Rachel, who said "It certainly has. You made us all very proud."

The brunette's compliment caused Brittany's smile to widen, "Damn straight! I'm going to shower. What are you reading? Anything good?"

Rachel shrugged, "There's an interview with Quinn. That's as far as I've gotten so far."

"Cool, save it for me, will ya? I'll read it when I get out. We're still on for lunch, right?" Brittany said, glancing behind her to look at Rachel as she walked to the bathroom.

"Yup, but remember that I have to be back at Crandon Park by four" Rachel nodded, and then went back to reading the article when she heard the bathroom door close behind Brittany.

SA – That's a very zen way of looking at things. Are you this zen when it comes to your love life?

QF – I'm not dating Finn Hudson.

SA – Maybe that's not where I'm going with this line of thought.

QF – (laughs) Ok, then, I don't know if I'm this zen when it comes to my love life since I have none, and I'm still not dating Finn. Does that help?

SA – The press seems to think you two are dating.

QF – Oh, then I must be! Gosh, how would I know anything about myself if the press didn't tell me?!

Rachel couldn't help but laugh out loud as she read Quinn's answer. The brunette had picked up on the blonde's love for sarcasm during the time they'd spent together on court and in the gym, and thought that Quinn was genuinely funny. She could picture the blonde's deadpan expression looking back at the journalist, and imagined that the answer was followed with a saccharine smile.

SA – Alright, I'll take your word for it. Are you dating anyone at the moment?

QF – Oh, there's plenty of love in my life. At the start of every game, in fact.

SA- So, no?

QF – No.

SA – Ok. Finally, the Miami Open is being played right here, in your hometown. That must make it very special to you.

QF – Absolutely. I was a ball kid here a couple of times, and it was also the first tournament to give me a wildcard. A lot of my family and friends come out to see me play here, and I get to hang out with them before and after matches. I also get to live at home, which is such a luxury when you spend the greater part of the year living out of suitcases. And there's no support like the support you get from the crowd in your hometown. So it's always amazing to play here.

SA – Well, Quinn Fabray, thank you for your time, and good luck defending your title.

QF – Thanks Sangeeta.

(Quinn Fabray continues the defense of her Miami Open crown tonight against World No. 9 Kitty Wilde at 7 p.m Eastern Standard Time)

Rachel finished reading the article, and flipped to the newspapers sports section to read the rest of the Miami Herald's Miami Open coverage. She was mid-way through an article on Azarenka's fourth round match when there was a quick knock at the door, followed by Shelby walking in to the hotel room.

"Hi Rach, Brittany in?" Shelby asked, settling down onto one of the chairs in the room.

Rachel nodded, "She's taking a shower. Should be out any minute now."

"Ok" Shelby said, "Ken said he's managed to get them seats on a flight out tonight, so we went down to the hotel lobby to figure out her share for the hotel so far. Turns out-"

The older woman was interrupted when Brittany came out of the bathroom, clad in a bathrobe and towel-drying her hair.

"Oh, hey Shelby" the tall blonde smiled.

"Hi Brittany, well played out there. Your ranking will be at an all-time high next week" Shelby smiled back.

"Thanks" Brittany said, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "What were you guys talking about?"

"I was just telling Rachel that Ken and I went down to the reception so we could split the bill for your stay so far; he's managed to get the two of you tickets to Charleston tonight. As it turns out, the Fabray camp has paid for your shared room, my room and all our food and other hospitality charges for the week" Shelby said.

Rachel sat up straight, "What? Why?"

"Well, I called Sue, and she said that it was the least they could do since you did them a solid by agreeing to be Quinn's hitting partner for the week" Shelby shrugged. Rachel looked stunned, so Shelby added in a softer tone, "It makes sense Rach. They would, and probably are, paying for her regular hitting partner's expenses. And they know how expensive it can be to travel with a coach when you haven't hit the top fifty yet." She turned to Brittany "So the only expenses you've had to pay for this week are Ken's room charges."

"Wow" Brittany said. She turned to Rachel, who still looked stunned at the Fabray camp's generosity. "Well, then lunch is on me and my quarterfinals takings! Who feels like sushi?"