There’s still hope for the Australians that one of their own can find glory in their home slam. On that note, the young gun Olivia Gadecki is looking to reignite fans’ morale at the AO. Before stepping into action, her maiden appearance in the event’s 2023 edition showcased a dedicated and zealous personality. That wasn’t all that stood out during Gadecki’s wildcard grand slam main draw debut. Her mother’s poignant struggles echoed the immense efforts behind her nascent ascension.

In 2023, the Aussie outclassed Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova – sister of top-10 WTA star Veronika Kudermetova – in straight sets 7-5, 6-1 to record her first victory on the Slam stage. Overwhelmed with emotions, Gadecki wiped her tears in disbelief and celebrated the win by hugging her mother on the courtside. Naturally, she diverted all focus to herself when she showcased those raw emotions and earned an emphatic round of applause from the locals.

Her Ukraine-born mother, Natalie, wasn’t the only family member in the crowd. A group of roughly 10 relatives, including her five brothers, camped in her players’ box after travelling from Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Despite renouncing her chance to debut at the ‘Happy Slam’ in 2022 due to not being vaccinated and suffering an R2 exit in the event’s 2023 edition, the 20-year-old reserved her spot in Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup squad. When it was her time to shine, the Aussie outfoxed the 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.

Following her victory, Gadecki tributed her mother Natalie and expressed how she played a vital role in shaping the tenacious athlete she is. “My mum has put a lot of time, sacrifice and dedication into my career, so I’m really happy we can share that moment together. [She] means so much to me. I look up to her in every sort of way, and without her, I wouldn’t be here today, so I’m just eternally grateful for her time and sacrifice,” she said as per THE AGE. Best believe, her mother also acknowledged her proud mother moment.

“You can’t describe that – I think you need to live this moment. It’s very hard to describe it. It took a lot of years of dreaming, hard work and believing,” said the single mom Natalie, whose other family still resides and endures the hardships in war-torn Ukraine. For those unaware, her husband isn’t in the picture and Natalie single-handedly manages her six children, with Gadecki being the only daughter in the lot.

The young Aussie sensation even addressed her thoughts on the match after an emotional celebration in Melbourne.

Olivia Gadecki expressed embracing her supportive home crowd in Melbourne

Australian rising star Olivia Gadecki was in complete disbelief after passing her first hurdle at the Australian Open in 2023. Before prepping for her second-round commitments, the 20-year-old explained how she felt after claiming her long-drawn victory at the season’s opening Slam in Melbourne.

During an on-court interview, Gadecki said: “Looking back at my match, it kind of seems like a blur, to be honest, but I’m just really excited to get the win and to play again on Wednesday. I don’t even think I can put it into words, but I’ve dreamt about it my whole life, and to live it is just a whole other feeling. The crowd was amazing today. I feel like in the past I’ve kind of kept to myself a bit. Today, I just wanted to kind of let them in and embrace the crowd.”

For now, the Aussie player will lock horns with Russian Veronika Kudermetova in R1 to further her agenda at the AO on Wednesday, January 15.