Being refreshingly open about her sexuality is not half the reason tennis star Casey Dellacqua feels ready to zoom back up the rankings.
Dellacqua says having a healthy body and bouncing baby, moreso than recently coming out as gay, are behind her resurgence after a couple of lean, injury-plagued seasons.
The 28-year-old reached three grand slam doubles finals in 2013 and is riding a 10-match winning streak in singles ahead of next month’s Australian Open wildcard playoffs in Melbourne.
Dellacqua announced at one of the sport’s biggest stages, the US Open in New York, that she and partner Amanda had become the proud parents of baby Blake in August.
“It honestly wasn’t a big deal to me,” Dellacqua told AAP.
“Someone asked me why I didn’t play between Wimbledon and the US Open and it was, yeah, because we recently had a baby and it was an important time to be at home and to enjoy that experience and to be a part of all that.
“Most people around me and obviously all of my family and closest friends have been very aware of my situation for a long time and that’s the most important thing to me.
“I didn’t think too many people would be too interested anyway. It was just a true answer and it’s just the way it is. I wouldn’t call it liberating or anything.”
Australia’s No.2 behind only grand slam champion Samantha Stosur, Dellacqua says having Blake has given her a new perspective.
“It makes life so much more enjoyable,” she said.
“I’ve got a great relationship and I’ve got a great family and I’ve got a lovely gorgeous boy to come home to after training.
“He makes me smile and he now makes me not think about tennis.
“There’s nothing but positives about it.”
Dellacqua almost slipped outside the world’s top 200 earlier this year before climbing back to No.131 since linking with new coach Shannon Nettle in May.
“I know I’ve won a lot more singles matches in the last six months than I have in a while prior to that,” she said.
Above all, Dellacqua – who battled crippling foot and shoulder injuries since reaching a career-high No.39 following her giantkilling run to the Australian Open fourth round in 2008 – says being fit has been the biggest factor in her revival.
“When I was around 22, even though I was at my highest ranking, I was carrying quite a few injuries,” Dellacqua said.
“When my body’s healthy, I feel like more invincible and I can challenge myself for a bit more and do the things that I need to do.”
Dellacqua has no plans to cut back her doubles commitments with exciting Australian teenager Ashleigh Barty but does have new singles goals.
“I’m still 110 per cent motivated to play both singles and doubles and this year obviously Ash and I have had a lot of success in doubles,” she said.
“Even financially, doubles has been great because it takes the pressure off a bit. And I enjoy it at the end of the day.
“But I still want to be out there competing at the highest level in singles.
“I’d love to finish my career – and this sometimes feels like my second career – on a high.
“I certainly feel like if I did it back then, there’s no reason why I can’t achieve that now.”
But it’s baby steps first.
“I 100 per cent believe I belong in the top 100. I know that,” Dellacqua said.
“So I’m looking forward to 2014 and to see what’s in store for me and I’ll certainly be doing everything I can to get back inside the top 40.
“But at this stage I look forward to getting back inside the top 100 and going from there.
“I’m going to try to do everything I can to get everything out of my tennis and, if I don’t, I’ve still got a wonderful family to come home to.
“Blake’s a great little bub and I can’t wait for next year and having him around with me and all the family.
“And that’s the most important thing to me.”
