Danielle Collins agreed with the notion while still feeling high on endorphins and adrenaline.
It was an alluring sound bite.
It was devoured by the Louis Armstrong Stadium crowd as they cheered their appreciation.
Collins, a gardener’s daughter and a teacher of elementary school, was their adopted underdog, her scowl sharpened by hardship.
The idea has been put forth before. A winning streak is bred by mean streets. Marvin Hagler, a legendary boxer, put it best in his words. When you’re in silk pajamas, it’s difficult to get up at six in the morning, he said.
It was made clear in gold by the Williams sisters’ ascent from Compton to champions.
Jessica Pegula, however, is unique.
The top-ranked American, from the wrong side of the tracks, will play Petra Kvitova in the round of 16 on Monday (17:00 BST).
The family of Pegula, who in 2014 acquired the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League, promised to help the adolescent with the fees of going pro. But after five years, they questioned whether their investment was worthwhile. As much for her as for others.
