Seven years after final donning the inexperienced and gold, Arina Rodionova is again within the fray on the web site of her outstanding run in January.
Brisbane, Australia, 9 April 2024 | Dan Imhoff
Pat Rafter Area immediately evokes triumphant reminiscences for Arina Rodionova upon her return to Brisbane for this week’s Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier tie towards Mexico.
In January, in her Brisbane Worldwide main-draw debut, the 34-year-old loved a shocking run when she claimed her first top-50 win in nearly 4 years over Martina Trevisan earlier than her upset of former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.
Her defeat to teenager Mirra Andreeva within the spherical of 16 was performed on an out of doors court docket, which stored her flawless singles file on the court docket intact.
“It’s solely been two or three months. I like this court docket, I’ve performed effectively on this court docket and such a great feeling to be again,” Rodionova mentioned. “Hopefully everybody will probably be again. I feel it was full home for Brisbane Worldwide.”
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A month after her run, Rodionova grew to become the oldest lady to crack the highest 100.
It was the final word reward for persevering when many earlier than her would have hung up the racquets for good after struggling a career-threatening wrist damage in 2022.
Rodionova as an alternative pulled off a outstanding return, capturing seven ITF titles final yr to complete the with a powerful 76-21 win-loss file at that degree for the season.
“I used to be taking part in fairly small tournaments the place nobody is watching, and I used to be alone so it was sort of a troublesome yr, however I used to be actually excited to do this after I used to be out with the damage for eight months,” she mentioned.
“I feel I used to be excited to be taking part in tennis once more. It’s one thing you possibly can by no means take without any consideration as a result of sooner or later in 2022, I feel 4 days earlier than Wimbledon, I broke my wrist and I didn’t know if I’ll ever play tennis once more, so as soon as I began it was fairly particular to be on the court docket each time.
“I actually appreciated each match that I performed and I performed numerous these final yr, so I simply stored having enjoyable and simply stored combating. On the finish of the day it doesn’t matter should you’re taking part in on this stunning court docket otherwise you’re taking part in someplace in Portugal the place nobody is watching, the sport continues to be the identical and yeah, I nonetheless take pleasure in it.”
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Seven years since she was final a part of Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup crew, Rodionova has spent a lot of her time plugging away at ITF occasions with occasional tour-level appearances.
Whereas chosen as a part of the crew for the tie towards Ukraine in 2017, she didn’t play.
Nonetheless, she performed in two ties in 2016. She fell in a three-hour battle within the opening singles rubber towards Anna Karolina Schmiedlova towards Slovakia within the World Group II Play-off.
Later that yr she and Daria Saville misplaced a lifeless doubles rubber to Individuals Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Coco Vandeweghe within the World Group Play-offs.
Even a yr in the past, the Rio 2016 Olympian had each purpose to assume her days donning the inexperienced and gold could have handed.
“It’s an incredible feeling and it’s not many individuals can say that they’ve achieved it of their life,” she mentioned. “I’m actually honoured. It’s additionally simply nice being a part of the crew.
“We don’t get to do it typically on tour. It’s a reasonably lonely sport. It makes it much more particular and clearly the women, the crew is tremendous good, we’re having dinners every single day.
“Everybody’s having fun with spending time collectively. It’s totally different and I feel we’re all actually having fun with this.”
Ought to she be referred to as upon to take the court docket in singles or doubles, a resurgent Rodionova has each purpose to again herself having by no means been overwhelmed on the primary enviornment.
“Oh actually, I’m not too fussed about taking part in myself essentially. I’m simply completely satisfied to be part of the crew and no matter I can do if it’s on court docket it’s nice, if it’s off court docket it’s additionally nice,” she mentioned. “I’m completely satisfied to do no matter – singles, doubles, bringing waters, like, it doesn’t actually matter so long as the top result’s a optimistic one.”
The 2-day Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Qualifier tie, which sees Australia tackle Mexico, begins on Friday 12 April.
Tickets are on sale by means of Ticketmaster, with grownup costs beginning at $20, concessions from $16, children from $5 and household passes (two adults and two kids) beginning at $45.
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Discover your technique to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on court docket and have some enjoyable!