Rodionova focuses on cracking top 100
ARINA Rodionova will target a top- 100 ranking and regular grand slam involvement after her feisty Wimbledon quest ended.
The only Australian to reach the second round in singles, Rodionova’s 6- 4 7- 6 ( 7- 4) departure to Kazakh Zarina Diyas left Australia with its worst Wimbledon result since 2012.
But, having snared four successive grass court victories, Rodionova will jump 95 places to a personal best of No. 132.
“After this tournament I’m gonna have my career- best ranking after seven years,” the exhausted Victorian said.
“I’m really happy with that to come back home and have a few days and continue to work with my fitness trainer and coach.
“I’m looking forward to getting to the next tournaments.
“The result is probably not the one I wanted but ( I was) satisfied with the way I played today and the way I fought and gave it all out there.
“That’s tennis. Sometimes, it doesn’t happen.”
Rodionova led the second set 5- 1 and unsuccessfully tried to serve it out three times.
“She just relaxed a little bit, started playing a lot better. She’s a good player and doesn’t give up,” Rodionova said.
“I don’t think I would change anything. My level of effort was 100 per cent.
“I probably wasn’t physically 100 per cent because I was really fatigued from my previous two long matches.
“I was fighting for every point and that’s all I can ask.”