Casey Dellacqua

Despite sitting out most of 2009 after shoulder surgery, Casey Dellacqua returned to competition late in the year, belying a lack of match practice and surprising even herself to win the Australian Open Wildcard Play-off.

Although falling in the first round of Brisbane and Sydney in 2010, she went on to reach the third round at Melbourne Park. Casey claimed singles and doubles ITF titles in Mildura, as well as the doubles in Sydney two weeks later.

Shortly after Wimbledon Casey had surgery to remove the lateral sesamoid bone in her right foot, ending her 2010.

Already a member of the top 100 in 2008, Casey Dellacqua crashed Australia’s collective consciousness when she reached the fourth round of the Australian Open that year and reached a career-high ranking of 39 in July.

She cracked the WTA doubles top 10 in May 2009 after a solid 12 months on the doubles court.

Casey started learning to play tennis aged seven when her mum, Nita, and her nan put her in group lessons at Kingsley Tennis Club.

Casey played all sports as a child and always knew she wanted to be a professional athlete. Her proudest moments are when her parents, Nita, and father Kim, watch her play at major tournaments.

She says they are her inspiration because they have given her every possible opportunity to pursue her dream of becoming a professional tennis player.

A Carlton supporter, she likes watching AFL, cricket and V8 Supercars in her spare time and also enjoys sleeping, shopping, hanging out with friends and family and reading.