Australian tennis star Casey Dellacqua became Australia’s highest-ranked woman after her breakthrough run at Australian Open 2008.
When she lost the first set against Karin Knapp in the opening round, it looked like she was likely to bow out of the major early once again. However, the Sydneysider managed to secure the second set at 6-3, then seal the victory at 8-6 in the third – winning her first Grand Slam match on home turf.
“It was huge. I think particularly at your home Slam,” she explained on this week's episode of The Sit-Down.
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“I put a lot of pressure on myself and I know a lot of the other Australian tennis players did the same to want to play well in Australia.
“When you’re at your home Slam, you know the crowd is always behind you, but it's also a double-edged sword where there's that expectation and there's no more expectation than I used to put on myself. But I think getting that win in difficult conditions, I guess just propelled again that confidence that I've got a win on home soil”.
She then charged through to the fourth round, upsetting 15th seed Patty Schnyder, then AO 2006 champion and former world No.1 Amelie Mauresmo, on her way.
“I don't think anyone expected me to win. I think everyone at that point, even my coach was like, well, whatever happens, happens. And deep inside I was like, no, I can win," she remembers when taking on Mauresmo.
“I knew I could win that match and it's not very often that you always had that type of self-belief or confidence. It didn't matter who was doubting you; like, no, I'm gonna go and win this one and that was definitely one of those matches.”
The following years on tour included a mixed doubles title at Roland Garros in 2011, after some time off due to injuries.
Her tennis journey then entered a new chapter – partnering with a young Ash Barty to tackle the doubles court together. In 2013, the pair advanced to the finals of three Grand Slam events and solidified what would be a lifelong friendship off the court.
Barty even announced her retirement in 2022 with Dellacqua by her side.
“We complimented each other on the doubles court. Lefty-righty combo. We just like talking tactics”, Dellacqua said.
“However I felt I was helping Ash was purely just from a very natural and organic way of when you meet someone and connect, and she did a lot for me too. She helped me through some of my tough times on tour and I got youthfulness and I got a lot of perspective from Ash as well in my own personal [life] and career as well, so I think it was a match made in heaven.”
Dellacqua credits her triumphs with Barty as a catalyst for what followed in 2014 – what she described as her best year on the singles court.
The West Australian native reached the fourth round of the Australian Open for a second time, the quarterfinals at Indian Wells, and another fourth round at the US Open, which led to her highest ranking in singles at world No.26.
“I had a great year in singles and there’s no doubt that… having that doubles success and just building and building and coming back from a couple of years out with injuries, I felt like it was coming,” she said.
By the time of her retirement, Dellacqua’s career had spanned an impressive 16 years. She farewelled professional tennis with a final doubles victory alongside Barty at Fed Cup in 2018.
“I definitely feel that love that I grew at a young age for the sport helped me have longevity in the sport because I just loved the game,” she added.
“I am so grateful for the career I had and as I said, the longevity, with the ebbs and flows in it all, all the tough times always, of course, define who you are.”
Dellacqua now works as a commentator and is the Women and Girls Lead at Tennis New South Wales, bringing the sport to more people around Australia.
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