Australian Open 2023: Olivia Gadecki‘s win over Polina Kudermetova was greeted with an inspirational text message from Ash Barty

Ash Barty isn‘t defending her Australian Open title but her presence was still felt by Aussie 20-year-old Olivia Gadecki, writes LINDA PEARCE.

Olivia Gadecki embraces her mother Natalia after winning her first round match in the Australian Open. Picture: David Caird

Ash Barty was proud. Olivia Gadecki was grateful.

The exchange of text messages between a retired Queensland tennis player and an emerging one involved a mentor congratulating a keen learner and a wildcard thrilled to access the wisdom of the triple major winner and former world No.1.

Checking her phone after her maiden grand slam match win on debut, 7-5, 6-1 against Russian qualifier Polina Kudermetova in round one of the Australian Open, Barty’s were among the first words Gadecki saw.

“She just said she’s really proud of me,’’ Gadecki told CODE Sports exclusively. “I said, ‘Oh thanks, Ash, it really means a lot and I couldn’t have done it without you’.’’

Their association, which covers guidance about life as well as tennis, started around four years ago, and in 2020 Barty invited the Gold Coast teenager to join her pre-season training in Brisbane.

Olivia Gadecki defeats Polina Kudermetova to progress to the second round of the Australian Open. Picture: David Caird

The most recent of their regular conversations was just a couple of days ago, as Gadecki, whose decision to remain unvaccinated after contracting Covid late in 2021 meant she watched the entire summer circuit from afar in 2022, passing up the chance to do all of this 12 months ago.

“We kinda spoke about how I would feel and how I’d deal with it when it came the time,’’ Gadecki says of her latest chat with expectant mum Barty. “And it really helped me.’’

Rightly, much has been made of the fact that, in the absences of injured duo Ajla Tomljanovic (ranked 35th) and Daria Gavrilova (56th), and with the greatest void obviously created by Barty’s sudden retirement in March, all five Australian women needed wildcards into the main draw.

But — along with Destanee Aiava, who lost in the second round of qualifying after a turbulent year — Gadecki has been considered the standout talent, having burst onto the WTA Tour by stunning an admittedly unwell 2020 women’s winner Sofia Kenin during the Melbourne Summer Series in a Covid-rearranged 2021.

“Of course I’d love to win a slam and be No. 1 in the world and encourage the next generation,’’ Gadecki says. “I’d love to be someone like Ash who inspires and really takes the time to take everyone under their wing.’’

If so, she can now relay one extra piece of information: What it feels like to win a match at your home slam. Your first match.

Once she can explain it herself, that is.

“Gee, I don‘t even think I can put it into words, but I think, you know, I’ve dreamt about it my whole life, and to really live it is just a whole other feeling,’’ the 20-year-old says.

“It‘s such a confidence-booster making the second round of a slam. It’s just an amazing achievement, but I definitely believe that I can do more, and I’m really looking forward to my next round.’’

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Olivia Gadecki greets her mother Natalia off-court after winning her opening round match at the Australian Open.

Gadecki’s favourite moment of a thrilling day was hugging mum Natalia, who rushed down to courtside after the 76-minute defeat of Kudermetova, the younger sister of world No. 9 Veronika.

There were tears.

“That was very emotional,’’ Olivia says. “ My mum has dedicated so much time and effort and sacrificed so much to raise the six of the kids, so (this was) in order to kind of repay her in a way.’’

The youngest of the five Gadecki boys is Thomas, a promising junior who will contest the boy’s singles next week. Their parents, including Ukrainian mum Natalia, emigrated to Australia in 1993.

“You can’t describe that; I think you need to live this moment,’’ says Natalia of the embrace. “It’s very hard to describe. It’s a lot of years of dreaming, hard work and just believing and keep going.

“It’s the beginning, I hope, and we will see more of her. She’s a strong girl.’’

Olivia followed her two eldest brothers into tennis, joining them at the local club when she was three. At Melbourne Park, a private support crew of about 10 was joined in what by the end was a full house that included 36 kids from Mackay wearing ‘2023 Southern Tour’ T-shirts, and zinc cream in the national colours.

Olivia Gadecki poses with her family after winning her opening round match at the Australian Open.

Gadecki made the conscious choice to embrace and open herself up to the crowd a little more than usual, and there were c’mons and fist pumps sprinkled throughout what she described as “such a once-in-a-lifetime sort of moment”.

She had slept pretty well the night before despite the size of the occasion ahead. There were butterflies pre-match, which she figured was normal, but then as the relative calm continued leading into 11am match time, Gadecki started to wonder whether it would all hit her when it started.

“But I was really calm and I just took it as another opportunity to get better and test myself,’’ she says and, from 5-5 won eight of the last nine games.

What changed?

“I kinda just believed in myself even more and just said, ‘If I’m gonna win this match I’m gonna win it on my terms’, and just put the foot down and off I went.’’

Seven aces among 19 winners, and 81 per cent of first serve points won. It’s a weapon. She’s got a few.

“She’s got a great serve, beautiful backhand, she’s an all-court player,’’ says Tennis Australia’s director of professional tennis, Paul Kilderry.

“Yeah, she’s certainly been a player that we’ve been excited about for a long time. She’s got a long way to go, but certainly her best is very good and she’s continue to improve.’’

Ash Barty watches Olivia Gadecki at Melbourne Park in 2021, mentor Barty was the first to text congratulations after the round one victory. Picture: Tennis Australia/Natasha Morello

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The vaccination issue was always going to be raised.

Gadecki says she made a choice and stands by it.

“I knew what my decision entailed, and I totally respect everyone‘s opinion and personal choice,’’ she says. “I’m just grateful to be here.’’

Mum Natalia was slightly more forthcoming.

“We decided not to play. She decided not to play. She was not ready for that. It was in a way a family decision,’’ she says.

“It was mixed feeling. Another thing (was) that she had Covid before, just before new year, and so she knew that she can’t play because she was not prepared well, and not being able to take (a vaccination) because doctor recommended being just recently sick you need to postpone, not to rush with having vaccination.

“So we decided to take it easy at that time. But she recovered. It’s all good, she can play.’’

Gadecki is the fifth-ranked Australian woman at 199th, which will rise after this closer to her career high of 156th, while her bank balance will soar with the addition of almost $160,000 pre-tax, even if she loses to Ukrainian world No. 61 Marta Kostyuk in the next round.

Not that it’s about the money.

“Oh, look, I didn‘t even think about the payment, to be honest … My family is here, and my mom has put in a lot of time and sacrifice and dedication into my career and, I mean, money can’t buy that. So I’m really just happy we can share that moment together.

“In a way, like, it doesn‘t really change the way I go about my career. It just gives me a little bit of a safety net, which is really important when it comes to being an athlete.

“I‘ve been so lucky to be able to be supported by Tennis Australia, especially Craig (Tiley), since I was very young. Without them, I wouldn’t be here right now, so thank you.’’

As to whether it would help to raise the spirits of Natalia’s sister and her family back in war-affected Ukraine: “It’s very sad what’s happening there,’’ says Natalia.

“It has nothing to do with Olivia’s tennis, but I think maybe having those strong roots from over there and the nature of the personality maybe that stems from having her parents from that background.’’

Gadecki is guaranteed a $160,000 payday after her win. Picture: Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images

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Queensland-based West Australian Talia Gibson was not so successful, beaten in straight sets later in the day by French qualifier Clara Burel, with fellow wildcards Kim Birrell and Jaimee Fourlis to play on Tuesday, and Storm Hunter due later on court later on Monday.

“It’s a long journey,’’ says Tennis Australia’s Paul Kilderry of the relatively threadbare current stocks, but why he is still bullish about the future.

“Sometimes we see young players come through and we expect so much of them, and everyone will flourish in their time.

“It’s a fine line and you need momentum, you need confidence, you need to be fit, you need to have done the work. There’s so many pieces of the puzzle that need to be in place to perform at that level and it’s a long road.

“Sometimes we all want it to happen so fast, but it’s not always like that.’’

Gadecki is a young veteran, having won her first national title in 2016, at 14/U level, made her first overseas tour as an 11-year-old, then at 12 played in a junior invitational during the French Open staged on a special court under the greatest Paris landmark.

“It’s crazy to think that you dream about even going to Paris, let alone playing there under the Eiffel Tower,’’ Gadecki says.

“And then another dream, playing a grand slam, a home slam even, in front of a home crowd, in front of family, it’s just a dream come true and I have to pinch myself right now. I still can’t believe it.’’

Originally published as Australian Open 2023: Olivia Gadecki‘s win over Polina Kudermetova was greeted with an inspirational text message from Ash Barty