An older and wiser Casey Dellacqua says she’s ready to make another run at the Australian Open, and she’ll get the chance to prove it at the Moorilla Hobart International.
Dellacqua faces a second-round showdown with top seed Yanina Wickmayer after the Australian’s hard-fought 7-5 4-6 6-4 win over world No.58 Galina Voskoboeva on Monday.
The 26-year-old is trying to regain the form that took her ranking to as high as No.39 in 2008, when she made the fourth round at the Australian Open and the third at the French Open and Wimbledon.
Dellacqua made the third round in Melbourne two years later amidst shoulder and foot injuries that required surgery and last year began her latest return by winning a record 30 straight matches on the second-tier ITF tour.
“I certainly feel like a different person and player now,” the world No.134 said.
“Mentally, I guess as you’re a bit older you just mature a bit more and I feel like I’m ready to make runs like that again.
“I definitely feel like I’m in a position right now to be able to compete with these girls and do this week-in week-out.”
Dellacqua’s temperament proved better suited to the blustery conditions than her 27-year-old opponent’s.