In a career where she became a teenage prodigy before succumbing to numerous personal problems, Mirjana Lucic-Baroni described herself as a ‘tough cookie’ following her fourth round win at the Australian Open.
Facing American qualifier Jennifer Brady, the 34-year-old hit 35 winners on route to a 6-4, 6-2, victory. The win has elevates Lucic-Baroni to her first grand slam quarter-final since 1999, where she reached the Wimbledon semifinals at the age of 17.
Since that magical run at Wimbledon, Lucic-Baroni’s life has been one filled with heartbreak. Once tipped to become a legend of the sport, personal issues lead to her downfall in tennis. Her family fled Croatia to move to America after it was revealed that Lucic-Baroni had been physically and mentally abused by her father over a ten-year period.
“There have been more beatings than anyone can imagine,” she once said.
Years have past since the revelation, but the Croat still remains reluctant about speaking of her past trauma. Troubled by both personal and Financial issues, the rising star of the women’s game was unable to capitalize on the momentum gained from her teenage years. Between 1999-2009, she failed to win a title of any sort and endured a six-year hiatus from competing in the main draw of a grand slam (2003-2009).
The hardships of her past failed to deter Lucic-Baroni’s talent and passion for the sport. After years of turmoil, she returned to winning ways in 2014 by clinching the Coupe Banque Nationale trophy in Canada, her first WTA title since 1998. Since lifting the Canadian title, Lucic-Baroni has made steady, but solid progress.
“I don’t like to go too personal, obviously, but I take I take a lot of pride,” she recently told The Herald Sun after beating third seed Agnieszka Radwanska in Melbourne.
“What my career was supposed to be, what it could have been, didn’t happen, but it took a lot of hard work and sacrifice to be here again.
“Even at this stage, this age, to be in the fourth round of a grand slam when people might say ‘there’s no chance’, I love that. I love proving people wrong.”
The resilience and determination of the Croat are one than can inspire an army. Following her fourth round win, she was asked what advice she would give to others. The response was one fitting to the roller coaster journey experienced by Lucic-Baroni.
“I can’t say on television or I’ll get fined,” she joked.
“(But) f**** everybody and everything who says you can’t do it and do it with your heart.
“I’m blessed. I had a rough patch in life early on but I’m really blessed with the family I have, blessed with the people I have around me.”
Lucic-Baroni will play either Daria Gavrilova or Karolina Pliskova in the Australian Open quarter-finals.
