Defiant Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 'not giving up' as comeback fairytale continues in Melbourne

ByJen Offord

Updated 23/01/2017 at 10:25 GMT

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni wowed crowds at the Australian Open on Monday as she beat USA’s Jennifer Brady to progress to the quarter-finals in Melbourne – and she had an inspiring message for those who turned out to watch her victory.

At 34 years old, having only once before progressed further than a grand slam fourth round in the singles competition, few would have been expecting the Croatian’s victory over Brady, and speaking after the match Lucic-Baroni hailed it as “really incredible.”

She said: “I always said I know I have the game but to actually work so hard and sacrifice so much to be here today... I hope nobody’s going to pinch me and wake me up because this is just incredible.”

Australian Open

Two-time champion Azarenka pulls out of Australian Open

08/01/2018 at 08:41

Though currently ranked at 118 in the world, Lucic-Baroni was tipped for big things during the early days of her career, when she became the youngest player to won a title at the Australian Open aged 15 in the doubles competition with Martina Hingis in 1998.

The next year Lucic-Baroni progressed to the Wimbledon semi-finals, knocking out defending champion Nathalie Tauziat and Monica Seles on the way. Though she was eventually beaten by Steffi Graf, the future looked bright.

However, following her Wimbledon semi-final, things went dramatically downhill for Lucic-Baroni, who suffered a string of personal and financial problems, and revealed her family had fled their native Croatia and her physically abusive father just the year before.

Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni celebrates winning her Women's singles fourth round match against Jennifer Brady of the U.S.

Image credit: Reuters

Subsequently, she dropped off the professional tour circuit almost completely until 2007, and she never seemed to shine quite as brightly as it had once been expected.

Asked on Monday how she had kept the faith in the almost-20 years since her breakthrough, she said: “I’m a tough little cookie and really, really stubborn. And when I want something I’ll work really hard and do whatever it takes to get it.”

She continued, to a cheering crowd: “And I will say to anyone struggling out there, actually I can’t say because the TV’s here and I’m going to get fined, but eff everything and everybody whoever tells you, you can’t do it, just show up and do it with your heart.”

Thanking her friends and family for their support, and referring to the struggles of her earlier career, a humbled an emotional Lucic-Baroni said: “I’m really blessed, I’ve had a rough patch in life early on but I’m really blessed with the family I have.”

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni and doubles partner Martina Hingis hold the trophy aloft at the 1998 Australian Open

Image credit: Reuters

Lucic-Baroni will now face fifth seed Karolina Pliskova in the quarter final, and though Pliskova will be favourite to win, Lucic-Baroni said she was “not giving up.”

With a doubles match between now and her quarter-final clash, a defiant Lucic-Baroni added: “I pick up a few more battle wounds with every match I play so next match I may have a few more straps on, but I’m going to keep playing.”

Australian Open

US Open champion Stephens bundled out in Sydney

08/01/2018 at 14:49

Australian Open

Australian Open 2018: All you need to know about the first Slam of the year

05/01/2018 at 15:16