Hunter: “I completely cherished it on the market” | 20 January, 2024 | All Information | Information and Options | Information and Occasions

Storm Hunter’s magical singles run at Australian Open 2024 is over.

However quite than really feel disillusioned, the 29-year-old is happy with her efforts after gallantly extending world No.11 Barbora Krejcikova to 3 units at Rod Laver Enviornment final evening.

“It was a tricky match. Actually needed to win that one, and I might say I had a number of possibilities, however Barbora performed some actually good tennis beneath stress,” Hunter stated.

“I completely cherished it on the market. It was numerous enjoyable. Despite the fact that I didn’t get the win, this complete week has been a win for my singles I might say.

“I don’t wish to have a look at it as disappointing as a result of I loved each minute. It’s not each evening you get to play at Rod Laver Enviornment after Novak (Djokovic) and have all of the followers on the market. I’m positively seeing it as a constructive.”

The world No.180 got here tremendous near reaching a 46-year first on the match, as the primary Aussie qualifier to win three main-draw matches on the match since Christine Matison in 1978.

It’s an effort that has prompted lots of Hunter’s friends, together with Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic, to implore the world No.1 doubles participant to place a better concentrate on singles.

“It’s positively a consideration,” Hunter stated of that prospect. “I wouldn’t say it’s a consideration proper now. I feel the place my rankings are I can nonetheless type of do each for the time being. There doubtlessly could also be that call down the road, however for now, no.”

When requested why she has struggled with self-belief in her singles recreation, a candid Hunter supplied an sincere clarification.

“I feel it’s simply my nature. I simply really feel like I’m such a traditional individual that to be on this atmosphere as knowledgeable athlete and being the No.1 doubles participant on this planet, to play on that stage, it virtually feels somewhat bit prefer it’s not for me in a manner as a result of I really feel like I’m so regular,” she stated.

“I don’t really feel that I’ve ever been this big expertise. I’ve at all times needed to work exhausting for it.”

Hunter credit her current doubles success for serving to enhance her confidence on the singles courtroom.

“Clearly I’ve been round for a very long time now on tour, so simply having these experiences and having the experiences enjoying Slams and doubles that simply, I feel, naturally helps,” she stated.

The hometown assist supplied added motivation for the Melbourne-based Hunter as properly.

“It’s positively straightforward when you have got the group cheering you on and supporting you it doesn’t matter what,” Hunter acknowledged.

“And that’s why I feel enjoying at house in Australia, enjoying for Australia, it’s very straightforward for me to do this as a result of I’m doing it not for myself, however for the nation.

“I assume lots of people would discover perhaps extra stress, however I truly discover it simpler. I type of wish to virtually make everybody else proud and make everybody who has caught by my facet proud as properly.”

Hunter’s consideration now turns to her Australian Open ladies’s doubles and blended doubles campaigns.

She does plan, nevertheless, to rethink her singles targets post-tournament.

“This positively provides me numerous perception in my singles,” she stated.

“We’ll return and analyse and have a look at what we are able to hold engaged on and go from there.”