Forty-eight hours after thrashing the 18th seed Kirsten Flipkens, Dellacqua equalled her best effort at her home slam. She dispatched a former Australian Open semi-fnalist, Zheng Jie, in straight sets, to reach the fourth round.
It owes much to having your head in the right place.
Late last year, Dellacqua revealed to the world in her own typically understated way that she was a lesbian – and that she and her partner had recently had a child.
Little baby Blake has been pictured in cuddles with the likes of Roger Federer in the players’ lounge at Melbourne Park, and he must be having a hugely positive impact on Dellacqua.
It looked as though, a couple of years ago, that she had lost her way, perhaps through personal issues, but certainly through a series of niggling injuries. But now she seems to play with a freedom only the truly happy and grounded seem to possess.
I suspect what might have also helped is her doubles partnership with 17-year-old Ashleigh Barty. The duo was fantastic last year in reaching the finals of the women’s doubles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. They’ve developed a great friendship and it seems to be rubbing off on the singles performances of both women.
Next up is the 30th seed, Eugenie Bouchard of Canada, but in the form she’s in, Dellacqua has every reason to think this will be her best ever Australian Open.
What is certain that Dellacqua will rise from her current ranking of 120 to something well inside the top 100 – just rewards for a couple of frustrating years of hard work.
Share
