The tennis world is buzzing with new talent, and one name that’s making quite the splash is 22-year-old Australian sensation Olivia Gadecki. She’s been turning heads with her stellar performances, especially with her recent dominance on the courts of Guadalajara. With her fierce groundstrokes and impressive athleticism, Gadecki is quickly becoming a player to watch out for. As she gets ready to play her first WTA finals on Sunday against Magdalena Frech at Guadalajara, let’s have a look at her background.

Born in April 2002, Gadecki picked up racquets when she was just three. The 22-year-old is of Polish descent and has five siblings, all brothers. Gadecki attended Southport State High School and practiced tennis there. She broke into the Top 200 for the first time in 2023, making her way to her first Grand Slam which was the Australian Open. She also made the US Open main draw and by the end of 2023, she was already placed at No. 127. Since then, there has been no looking back for Gadecki.

The tennis sensation has already broken into the top 100 this year with her career-high ranking of 64 being recorded in July 2024. Known for her powerful serve and forehand, Gadecki is currently coached by Andy Murray’s father-in-law Nigel Sears. But interestingly, behind this fascinating career, there is also a story of resilience. 

Believe it or not. Gadecki thought about quitting tennis when she was just 15. She revealed, “I quit for about a year-and-a-half when I was 15, so [halfway through] year 10 in school because I was very overwhelmed with all the travel and schoolwork, and I was really struggling mentally.” But helping her through her journey was Ash Barty, who also quit tennis as a teenager.

Gadecki graduated at a time when the world faced the menace of Covid-19. Since the player did not opt for a vaccine, she was also prohibited from participating in several tournaments. However, with Barty’s support and guidance, she quickly paved the way for herself. Gadecki eventually played her first full year in 2021 winning ITF titles at $15K Antalya and $25K Vigo. As she gears up for her first WTA finals, she couldn’t be more proud of her success.

“I had potential in my game” – Olivia Gadecki shares true feelings about her skills

On her way to the finals at Guadalajara, Gadecki baffled some top names like 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, 2022 Australian Open runner-up Danielle Collins, and former world No. 18 Martina Trevisan. For a player as young as her, it’s like a dream come true. As she gears up for the finals at Guadalajara, the young star expressed her happiness.

Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, Gadecki said, “I’ve shown up every day and enjoyed the battle and the opportunities, and I really can’t quite believe that I’m in the final. I knew that I had potential in my game and that I had more to give.”

However, she did not fail to highlight her struggles as well. “I just felt like I was stuck at that 150 [ranking] bracket for a little while, and couldn’t quite break it. I knew if I kept showing up and doing the right things and believing in myself – believing in myself is the massive thing – that it would eventually come,” the 22-year-old added.

Moving ahead, it will be interesting to see if Gadecki baffles Magdalena Frech in the finals and wins her first WTA title. Do you think she can do it?