Tennis Australia were giving nothing away ahead of time when it came to unveiling the recipients of their final Australian Open wildcards. A day before the announcement came, Olivia Rogowska was none the wiser.
“They’ve been keeping it under wraps,” said the 23-year-old, who was knocked out in the semi-finals of the wildcard playoffs in December by eventual winner Daria Gavrilova. “I’m going to be keeping an eye on how everyone’s results go over the next few days, but fingers crossed!”
Rogowska can rest easy. Both she and fellow Hobart International wildcard Storm Sanders will be in the hat for next week’s draw ceremony in Melbourne along with Arina Rodionova, with the fourth and final women’s wildcard yet to be announced.
It is just reward for the Victorian’s whole-hearted commitment to getting the best out of her game, which stepped up a notch in 2014 as she left Melbourne and relocated to the United States.
“It was a big move,” Rogowska said. “I left Tennis Australian and based myself out in Florida. A lot of the girls are based out there so I’ve been hitting with players in the top 100 day in, day out. I found a pretty good team out in Florida and I’m really enjoying it.”
Having come so close to cracking the top 100 last season – her ranking topped out at 102, and is now at 124 – Rogowska is determined to reach double digits in 2015. Leaving the Tennis Australia setup was a wrench, but for a player intent on maximising her potential it was the logical next step.
“It’s been really great, being close to all the tournaments and being in warm weather every day,” she explained. “Europe is only an eight-hour flight away, so I don’t have to do that really long flight from Australia to get everywhere! Mentally I’ve been feeling fresher wherever I go.”
Even half a world away, however, there’s still that Aussie connection at heart. Rogowska spent her off-season training at the Saddlebrook Academy established by the legendary Australian coach Harry Hopman.
For Rogowska, the focus throughout the off-season has been on pushing herself – both on court and in the gym.
“They’ve got a great fitness team there,” she said. “Caroline Garcia was out there, so was Shuai Zhang, Gabriela Dabrowsky – we’re all top 100 or top 150, and they’re all very professional.
“It’s good to practice with players above your level – it can only help you improve.”
In keeping with Hopman’s Saddlebrook philosophy, fitness was at the heart of Rogowska’s 2015 preparations.
“I did a hell of a training block,” she added. “I was training extremely hard in the gym – and I feel like it’s coming out on court.
“I’ve been working on getting more power into all of my shots, but still trying to stay consistent. I definitely feel like I get more on my serve now since the off-season.”
Originally drawn against Sloane Stephens, a reshuffle of the seeds means Rogowska now opens her Hobart against Italy’s Roberta Vinci. The pair have never met before, but the Melbourne native will not be overawed by her 31-year-old opponent.
“I play with those girls and I definitely feel my level matches up to them,” Rogowska said. “I just have to mentally believe I belong up there.
“It’ll just take one or two tough matches that I can pull through, then hopefully the confidence and belief will come with that.”
With a little luck – and safe in the knowledge her place in the Australian Open main draw is secure – Hobart will give Rogowska the lift she’s looking for.