There is a spring in Lizette Cabrera’s step as she prepares for her second Hobart International appearance.
The Australian is buoyed by memories of her debut at the tournament a year ago, when as a wildcard ranked outside the top 200 she upset world No.42 Misaki Doi to record her first WTA main draw win.
“I had a bit more belief in myself after that win. It was definitely a great way to start the year,” Cabrera said.
“I really love Hobart, I think it’s one of the prettiest places I’ve ever been to and it was a really special time last year.”
Yet those happy memories are not the only thing driving the 20-year-old as she prepares for a round one showdown with Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia at the Domain Tennis Centre.
“It’s a different sort of feeling, I definitely feel like I belong more,” Cabrera said, comparing her arrival in Hobart last year.
“I’ve had a lot more experience at the WTA level. I know a few more of the girls and definitely feel more comfortable here.”
Solid results followed Cabrera’s Hobart International 2017 breakthrough. The Queenslander made her first WTA quarterfinal in September, helped by a career-best win against world No.31 Anett Kontaveit. A second WTA quarterfinal followed shortly after in October, where she pushed fellow Australian Daria Gavrilova in a three-set battle in Hong Kong. It helped propel Cabrera’s ranking to a career-high No.134.
“That was a new high for me and just being able to sustain my level at the WTA level too is something I’m proud of,” she said.
Cabrera is aiming for even greater heights in 2018.
“I want to try crack the top 50. I don’t want to put too much emphasis on top 100,” she said.
“I want to aim high, as well as stay healthy and happy.”
Not even the recent off-season shifted that focus.
“It was really nice to have a couple of weeks at home, but I trained the house down and made the wattbike my best friend,” she said.
A wildcard entry into next week’s Australian Open, Cabrera is also determined to make the most of a wildcard into this week’s Hobart International.
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Cabrera has never played the left-handed Haddad Maia, a 21-year-old who reached a career-high ranking of No.58 last year – but is up for the challenge.
“I’m just really excited to be back in Hobart,” Cabrera said.