meet tennis star casey dellacqua
“My style hasn’t changed too much this year,” reflects Casey Dellacqua, the 29-year-old from Perth who’s as known for her aggressive style on the tennis court as her fun-loving attitude off of it. “Throughout the off-season I’ve done a lot of work fine tuning every area of my game so that I’m best prepared for battle in 2015. You can expect to see a good fight from me in every match I play.”
Casey’s been a tennis player since she was seven and a professional since she was 17. Now ranked 29th in the world, this week the Perth native kicked off her 13th season on home turf, at the Australian Open.
Her breakthrough year in 2008 saw her upsetting former World No. 1 Amélie Mauresmo, and Casey has represented Australia at both the Beijing and London Olympics, but she’ll be the first to tell you that although a career in professional sports is something she’s always wanted, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing.
In 2009, she underwent back-to-back surgeries and found herself sitting out for the season and dealing with chronic physical issues that prevented her from training and competing. The injuries “put me out of the game for longer than I would’ve liked,” she acknowledges. Sheer optimism and an admirable sense of determination allowed her to find the silver lining in such setbacks. “I always remained positive and I think the main key was that I found hobbies and interests away from tennis that kept me busy and happy,” she explains. “For example, I enrolled in beauty school and studied that, which I really enjoyed.”
Outside of tennis, nothing beats home life and family time. This year Casey’s got her sights set on the kitchen, acknowledging that “as I’ve been on the road so much of my life, my cooking skills are very limited.” And when she’s not playing you’ll find her in Sydney with her loved ones. “I have a wonderful partner, Amanda, and we have a beautiful little son Blake. They definitely keep me grounded,” she says.
Staying mindful and grounded is 100 per cent a priority. “Tennis is a gruelling sport,” Casey says. “We are on the road for about nine months of the year, and week-in week-out we are competing at a high level and in so many different countries around the world.” To handle the pressures, she explains, the best thing is “to connect with my family and friends back home. I try to talk to my family as much as I can so that I never feel too far away from home.”
That said, playing in far-flung, celebrated places still gets her pumped. “My favourite tournament is Wimbledon,” she says. “It has so much history and tradition, that it’s hard not to get goose bumps when you walk onto the court. I also love to play at the US Open because I love New York City. Japan would have to be my other favourite country to play in.”
When she needs a breather on the road and has the time, a walk—in whatever city she happens to be in—also helps. “I grab a coffee, take a breath, and realize how lucky I am to do something I love.”
You can cheer on Casey at the Australian Open in Melbourne, on til February 1. For information on tickets and the playing schedule, head here. To find out more on Casey, on and off the court, check out her website.
Photocredit: tennis images by Tracey Incau; personal images courtesy Casey’s Instagram
Bonnie is a blogger, keen traveller, food lover, and podcast listener. Whether it’s making homemade beef jerky, shoulder shruggin’ to some hip hop, working on her jiu jitsu or practicing her handstands, you can follow along on Instagram.
