Australian Arina Rodionova celebrates a serious profession milestone this week, breaking into the world’s top-100 in singles for the primary time.
Hua Hin, Thailand, 5 February 2024 | Leigh Rogers
Arina Rodionova creates historical past this week, changing into the primary 34-year-old to make their top-100 singles debut on the WTA Tour.
“It’s loopy, I really feel like I’m 10 years too late to the social gathering,” Rodionova mentioned. “However I suppose it’s higher late than by no means. I’m glad I lastly made it.”
The Melburnian rises 4 locations to a career-high world No.97 after scoring two top-100 wins in Thailand final week to advance to her first WTA-level quarterfinal since July 2017.
“To be high 100, I can lastly say I’m really tennis participant,” Rodionova laughed. “As a result of when your career-best is 116, individuals are like ‘Oh, you’re simply 116, That’s not that nice’.”
> READ MORE: Rodionova leads rising Aussie girls within the newest rankings
Because the introduction of the WTA Tour singles rankings in 1975, solely 5 gamers aged over 30 have made their debut within the high 100.
Rodionova is the oldest amongst them, overtaking Israel’s Tzipora Obziler who had held that document for the previous 17 years.
| WTA Tour, top-100 singles Gamers aged 30+ to make their debut |
||
| Participant | Debut | Age |
| Arina Rodionova (AUS) | February 2024 | 34 |
| Tzipora Obziler (ISR) | February 2007 | 33 |
| Adriana Villagran Reami (ARG) | August 1988 | 32 |
| Emina Bektas (USA) | November 2023 | 30 |
| Nuria Parrizas Diaz (ESP) | August 2021 | 30 |
Twelve months in the past, Rodionova was ranked No.309 and starting her comeback from wrist surgical procedure.
She loved a stellar 2023 season, scooping seven ITF singles titles and profitable a tour-leading 78 matches. This noticed her climb to a brand new career-high rating in December and turn into Australia’s top-ranked girl for the primary time.
“I performed week after week after week and simply labored arduous,” Rodionova mentioned. “It’s clearly not a straightforward life-style, I used to be by myself for lots of the yr. I used to be away from dwelling for 10 months. I performed 107 matches.
“I don’t essentially have to scream about it from each nook, however I do know what I’ve executed and it was not straightforward. So I’m tremendous happy with my achievement.”
> READ MORE: Rodionova – “I feel I stunned lots of people”
Rodionova, who has scored 4 top-100 wins to date in a powerful begin to the 2024 season, famous this difficult work made her long-awaited top-100 breakthrough even sweeter.
“I really feel like I should be right here as a result of I put in a lot work final yr,” she mentioned.
“I performed extra matches than anybody I feel and I gained extra matches than anybody.
“I really feel like I should take pleasure in it a bit bit extra this yr. Hopefully I can now make more cash from tennis, as a result of final yr was not that nice financially. It was nice bodily, I bought actually match by taking part in plenty of matches however that’s not precisely why I work you already know.”
Together with her rating now inside the highest 100, Rodionova hopes to keep up that place to earn direct entry into upcoming Grand Slam tournaments at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Rodionova has by no means beforehand acquired direct entry into a serious match, along with her 10 earlier main-draw appearances coming through both a wildcard or by qualifying.
“I’m simply excited,” mentioned Rodionova, who was 20 when she made her top-100 breakthrough in doubles.
“I’m going to attempt to take pleasure in this yr. Clearly I’m going to attempt to play greater tournaments.”
Rodionova is competing at a WTA 125 match in India this week, then plans to take pleasure in a brief break in Australia to organize for the American hard-court season.
“There numerous work to do, however hopefully it will likely be a bit extra pleasant,” she mentioned.
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