Kaylah McPhee broke new ground during her tennis career in 2019 when she burst into WTA events

Kaylah McPhee broke new ground during her tennis career in 2019 when she burst into the WTA events for the first time, and entering the Australian Open qualifying tournament her world ranking is hovering around 200.

Kaylah McPhee broke new ground during her tennis career in 2019 when she burst into the WTA events for the first time, and now she was poised to advance another step courtesy of automatic entry into the Australian Open qualifying tournament.

The 21-year-old, who grew up playing almost any sport that was on offer in the Samford Valley, has cut her world ranking from the high 500s down to around 210 in the last 18 months.

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This year alone her ranking has come down around 140 placings after starting 2019 ranked 350 when she gained a wildcard entry into the Australian Open qualifiers.

Kaylah McPhee at the Playford Tennis International. Picture: Tennis SA

While she missed an invitation to the French Open qualifying tournament, she did secure places at the qualifying tournaments for Wimbledon and the US Open which was a major break through.

KELVIN GROVE STATE COLLEGE WIN NATIONAL TEAMS TOURNAMENT

“It was my very first time playing WTA events. It was new territory. It has been awesome,’’ McPhee said.

“It is satisfying to be at the Slam and be around all the top players. It makes you feel like it is so worth it when you have those weeks around them.

“I have taken a lot out of those tournaments.’’

Kaylah McPhee on the forehand.

One highlight of her 2019 season was winning a double event in Bendigo with her good friend Maddison Inglis.

McPhee said with the excitement of making it to the Wimbledon and US Open qualifiers came a new challenge.

“I would say the biggest struggle I have been dealing with is the pressure because when you get to Grand Slam events, you get nervous,’’ McPhee said.

Kaylah McPhee in full cry.

“This year has been about navigating through those feelings and emotions and learning how to deal with that a little better.’’

McPhee, a graduate of the Kelvin Grove State College tennis academy program, was a slow starter in the sport despite her parents having a tennis court.

Kaylah McPhee in action. (Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

But once she played her first tournament aged nine years, her fondness for tennis intensified.

McPhee life on the tour had been helped by forming a great friendship with Perth’s Maddison Inglis “Our rankings have been going the same for two years,’’ McPhee said.

“I think the last year and a bit we started to travel together more,’’ McPhee said. “She lives in Perth and she stays with me training in Brisbane and we share the same coach (Chris Mahoney). “It has made it 10 times easier.’’