Daria Gavrilova’s current (and career high) ranking of No. 25 has been a long time coming, and it has not come without taking risks, and making some big changes.
The 22-year-old represented Russia until last year, when she officially became an Australian.
Gavrilova’s obsession with the Aussie nation began during her junior years, when she first took the trip Down Under. In *The West Australian*, she said her immediate reaction was, "Oh my god, this is the best country and I want to live there."
At 15, she met Australian ATP player—and her current boyfriend—Luke Saville, and just three years later, she made the big move to Melbourne.
"I love the style of life here," she said. "Everyone is pretty sporty and it’s super comfortable."
Gavrilova toiled around plenty on the lower ranks of the tour from her start in 2010, before cracking the Top 50 last year.
"When (Maria) Sharapova won her first Wimbledon, I would have been really young and I started thinking ‘OK, I’ll beat her and I’ll win before her,'" Gavrilova said. "Then when I understood that it’s pretty tough and the reality hit me, I think I started thinking ‘OK, I’m going to be a tennis pro’, when I was about 12."
Now instead of chasing Sharapova, Gavrilova has the tasking of following in the footsteps of former US Open champion and Aussie No. 1, Sam Stosur.
"Just like Sam has inspired a generation, we want [Daria] to do the same thing, to inspire the next generation of female tennis players in Australia," retired Aussie pro Nicole Pratt said. "I just think she’s a fierce competitor. She’s an incredible mover on court, like she’s one of the best movers out on tour and she has a thirst to get it right."
This year, Gavrilova reached her first major fourth round in front of her new home crowd in Melbourne. She also appeared in her first WTA final in front of her former home crowd in Moscow.
For a player who was rejected by her first coach for being "too chubby," Gavrilova has come a long way. As long as she keeps her emotions in check, her star should keep rising.
"I play really bad when I’m being sarcastic and being too arrogant," Gavrilova said. "That’s when I can’t perform at my best. I think I care a lot and when I’m positive and winning, I’m showing it."