On court

• loves to contest the Australian Open Play-off, saying “it’s the biggest tournament I’ve played in … the courts are right in the city, and Melbourne has the best shopping and food”
• ambition is to make the world top 100 and follow in the footsteps of Kim Clijsters, who she describes as “unbelievable, a true champion!”

Off court

• took after her parents in pursuing sport; her dad, Dominic, represented Australia in Greco-Roman wrestling and her mum, Santina, also played tennis
• remains thankful to her parents for their support and having “stuck by me during the rough patches”
• enjoys reading and speaks both Italian and French