By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, January 2, 2024
The New Yr reminds us: It is by no means too late to pursue your desires.
Arina Rodionova is closing in a single realizing twin desires Down Below.
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Australian wild card Rodionova repelled Sofia Kenin 7-5, 7-6(7) to achieve the spherical of 16 on the Brisbane Worldwide.
On the age of 34, Rodionova is closing in on historical past.
The victory vaults Rodionova to a new career-high rating of No. 103 within the dwell rankings— placing her three spots away from changing into the oldest girl to ever crack the WTA Prime 100 for the primary time.
“Oh, it is so nice. I believe that is the rationale why I am having a lot enjoyable on the market as a result of, as I say, I’ve completed the arduous work,” Rodionova instructed the media in Brisbane. “I’ve performed within the small cities, small tournaments the place nobody is watching. Yeah, I believe it is just a little bit like a reward for me simply even being right here.
“Clearly successful is a superb bonus, however, yeah, taking part in this stage of event and being at dwelling and being wholesome sufficient. Like final 12 months I could not even play the week earlier than Australian Open as a result of my harm was nonetheless not nice.”
To place this victory in perspective, contemplate Rodionova arrived in Brisbane with three profession Prime 50-wins, most just lately knocking off Sloane Stephens on the 2020 Adelaide.
Now, the Russian-born Aussie has knocked off successive Prime 50-ranked opponents.
The Australian No. 1 is making her case for an Australian Open wild card. Rodionova will attempt match her career-best successful streak of three matches when she faces both fourth-seeded Liudmila Samsonova or Mirra Andreeva for a quarterfinal spot.
Rodionova mentioned she’d clearly love a wild card into the Melbourne main, which begins on January 14th, however is aware of the ball is in Tennis Australia’s courtroom.
“If it was as much as me, I’d give it to myself, sure, however I believe there’s different folks concerned,” Rodionova mentioned. “I do not know. Hopefully they like the way in which I am taking part in this week, and hopefully they just like the I’ve already gained I do not understand how a lot matches final 12 months. I’ve completed all of the arduous work.
“So I put myself in one of the best place. There’s nothing else I might have completed to get myself nearer. I’ve pushed actually arduous the entire 12 months. I believe once I was beginning, I used to be 00 and completed the 12 months at round 100. Yeah, I am tremendous pleased with myself, and I am pleased with myself. In the event that they they are not completely satisfied, then there’s nothing else I can do. I’ve completed my greatest, and now it is out of my fingers this, so…”
Photograph credit score: Chris Hyde/Getty