How Hon got on top of Top 20 rival
AUSTRALIA’S latest giantslaying tennis player Priscilla Hon has revealed the mental reset she underwent to convince herself she could compete with the world’s best.
Hon’s extraordinary upset of dual Wimbledon champion and world No.17 Petra Kvitova in Adelaide on Monday night puts her in a strong position for the last Australian Open wildcard.
Tennis Australia officials challenged Hon and fellow contenders Ellen Perez, Lizette Cabrera and Seone Mendez to perform this week to show they deserved a wildcard.
Hon responded with a 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 6-2 victory – after trailing 2-4 in the second set
– that doubled as the Queenslander’s maiden top-20 scalp.
“I think what I did really well, and what I was aiming for today, was just keeping a cool head and not being overwhelmed playing Petra, who I’ve obviously grown up watching for many years,” Hon said.
“So, I think just taking that out of my head and playing the game was key for me today.
“It’s still sinking in, but like I said on court, it’s something I’ve really been working on – not being scared playing these top-30 girls and actually believing I can beat them.
“I’ve been working really hard on it for the last year, so seeing that hard work pay off makes me feel unreal.”
Previously a top-15 junior before being on the cusp of the women’s top 100 in late 2019, the 23-year-old Hon has endured a torrid time since.
The Covid-19 pandemic was bad timing for Hon but a serious hip injury – the first major setback in her young career – dramatically altered her trajectory.
With the tour suspended in 2020, she instead competed in Universal Tennis Rating events but suffered a torn labrum and strained joint capsule on her left side while reaching for a return.
“It’s been really frustrating and I’m still trying to get to the top 100,” she said.