Maddy Inglis is hoping giving up Christmas with her family will pay off as she prepares for what shapes as a huge summer of tennis.
Inglis is coming off a career-best 2019 after claiming her first three ITF titles and rising to 128 in the world rankings.
The West Australian believes a combination of factors have contributed to her rise, particularly committing to a training base in Brisbane under tennis coach Chris Mahoney and strength and conditioning coach Daniel Johnson.
“I get asked that a lot, I don’t think that there’s one thing that I could point out, but I think basing myself somewhere and I having a routine helped,” Inglis told emageogroup.com.
“I have really good people around me – I think that is a huge one for athletes. Just the people you surround yourself with and, I think at the moment, I have an awesome group of people and I’m really lucky so that’s been a really big difference for me.”
Inglis has spent the past few weeks working hard in Brisbane and had to sacrifice Christmas with her family in Perth.
“It’s been really tough actually, especially in the Brisbane heat,” Inglis said. “Just mainly focusing on a lot of fitness and trying to stay out there for a couple of hours. I’ve been trying to do that every day and lot of work in the gym to get stronger and fitter on the court.
“I’m definitely feeling the benefits already. It’s a bit sad for Christmas. I was thinking maybe I’d get on a last-minute flight.
“I haven’t really had a proper pre-season before, I don’t think. I’ve kind of just been in and out and travelling to play-offs and then back home to Perth, so to be in Brisbane for these few weeks, I think, is really important. I know I missed Christmas and my family but I’m hoping it will pay off in the summer.”
The 21-year-old is now eyeing a place inside the world’s top-100 but knows the next step will not be an easy one to take.
“I’d love to crack the top 100,” Inglis said. “It doesn’t sound like much – 128 to 100 – but it is a lot of points so hopefully I can do that this year and then maybe get into grand slams on my own ranking. That would be the goal for next year.”
Inglis will attempt to qualify for the Australian Open in a bid to return to her home grand slam for the first time since 2016 when she won a Wildcard as a teenager.
“That was four years ago now so I feel a lot more ready for it, I think, if it were to happen and I would be really pumped if that opportunity came up,” Inglis said. “But being in qualifying is an awesome opportunity.”
Inglis, who is also set for qualifying at the Brisbane International, said the time she had gained at Melbourne Park ahead of the Open was a major plus.
“Even with the Play-offs a couple of weeks ago, we’re the only players that have played in the conditions that people are playing on in a month so I think that’s a huge advantage and have to our pre-season in Australia is a huge advantage as well,” she said. “I think a lot of Aussies will do well this summer and I hope I’m one of them.”