Fighter Lucic-Baroni hopes for fairytale ending
MIRJANA Lucic-Baroni’s fairytale Australian Open continued on Saturday, with the Croat showing the fighting qualities that have seen her overcome personal trauma, financial constraints and injury on a long, long road back to the top.
The 34-year-old, who stunned third seed Agnieszka Radwanska in round two, battled from a set down to end the dreams of Greek Maria Sakkari 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 to make the fourth round.
She will now play American qualifier Jennifer Brady, who shocked 14th seed Elena Vesnina.
It has been a memorable tournament so far for LucicBaroni, who in 1997 made her US Open debut at just 15 and teamed with Martina Hingis to win the 1998 Australian Open women’s doubles.
In 1999, at 17, she went to the Wimbledon semi-finals where it took Steffi Graf to beat her.
But it all fell apart soon after as she was engulfed by heartbreaking personal issues.
In the background back then was tough, demanding father Marinko who, Lucic-Baroni later revealed, dished out regular beatings – although he described them as “slaps” that were “best for the child”.
Eventually, in desperation, Mirjana, her mother Andelka and four siblings fled their Croatia home in the dead of night for the sanctuary of the United States.
The drama, however, put the brakes on a journey which should have led to fame and fortune as financial problems forced her to put a career on a backburner.
Lucic-Baroni disappeared from professional tennis for most of the 2003-2010 period, before slowly feeling her way back.
She said it had been a rocky road back, playing small events, but she never gave up on her dream.
“I never thought about stopping, but it was difficult. It was a lot of tears, a lot of disappointments. It was really hard,” she said of playing lowerlevel circuits.
“I think many would give up, and I really take a lot of pride in that, because it was really hard. I didn’t get any wildcards, I didn’t get any special treatment. I really had to do it on my own, and I had to fight so hard for it.
“I take a lot of pride in that, and it takes a lot of character. It takes a lot of hard work. It takes a lot of mental strength.
“The fact that I was able to do that and be here today just kind of proves to myself who I am and what a fighter I am.” — AFP