Lizette first up massive congrats. Where were you when you found out the great news?

I had actually just arrived in Melbourne for the fed cup training camp! I remember it so clearly I was outside waiting with two other girls getting a cab from the airport and one of my coaches (Anthony) rang me and told me the good news. He said I had to keep it a secret but I remember I couldn’t stop smiling for the whole day.

Aus open 2017 I’m coming for ya ? — Lizette Cabrera (@lizzycabrera97) November 29, 2016

What does it mean to you to be able to represent your country in your home Grand Slam?

Obviously it’s everything to me. As an athlete my dream is to represent my country for my sport and to be able to have the opportunity to do that at the Australian Open is crazy. I’m so happy and grateful to be able to do this and just super excited like I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.



This must mean so much to your family, how did they react to the news?

I couldn’t tell them straight away because they were at work. But in the afternoon I called dad and he was so happy. Like ecstatic! I could hear it in his voice and he deserves this good news as much as me. Also mum was in the background screaming haha. Then I also texted my sister and she was super excited for me too. Brother was the last one to find out haha but yeah he was also really happy for me.

Merry Christmas from the Cabrera's ? A photo posted by @lizettecabrera on Dec 24, 2013 at 11:41pm PST

Tell us a little about your parents and their commitment and efforts in giving you every chance to achieve your dream of playing in the Aussie Open?

I am so grateful to have parents like them. They work so incredibly hard for me and my tennis and not to mention our family as well. Day in day out they do everything they can to help me succeed. Whether it’s working extra days to help fund my tennis or getting up early to make me food they just do it and never complain. This opportunity obviously means a lot to me but to them it really is everything they’ve been working for so I’m just as excited for them as I am for myself.



You’ve had such a big 2016. What has been the highlight?

2016 has been an incredible year for me. I honestly don’t know if I could pick an exact highlight but winning two back to back pro titles and one of them being in Brisbane at my home centre where I train was pretty special. Then also beating my first ever top 100 player in Japan and then going onto make the finals that week was another highlight of my year.

First $25k win ? A photo posted by @lizettecabrera on Sep 24, 2016 at 9:28pm PDT

Title 2 ? special thanks to my team and also @TennisQld for running a great tournament. #backtoback pic.twitter.com/6laV0Pmd6n — Lizette Cabrera (@lizzycabrera97) October 2, 2016

Tell us about your coaches and the work they have done to take your game to the next level?

I have two incredible coaches who have done so much for me to get me where I am. If it wasn’t for them I don’t think I’d be here. Anthony Richardson and Brett Hunter both have extremely good qualities and I love learning new things from both of them. If I could say what they have both helped me with the most is my mentality with my tennis. They have really helped me believe more in myself and also helped me become mentally tougher on and off the court.



And what are you looking forward to most about the Australian Open?

To just play and compete in my first grand slam in my home country. And to have people cheering my name will also be pretty special.

Me and Feds!! ??☺ A photo posted by @lizettecabrera on Jun 17, 2013 at 12:00am PDT

We know you’re a massive Insta Foodie. Will you and your mates be celebrating with a big dinner?

Haha that is right. I love my food! I had some really good dinners in Melbourne that week so that’s my celebrating done haha!



What’s the next month shaping up like for you in terms of prep?

Well I took a few days off and I recently just started my pre season. I’ll have a few weeks to train and really push myself so that I can be the fittest I can be before the Aussie summer starts (first tournament in Jan at Brisbane international).

We know you’ve got some crazy Hip Hop dance moves. Can the Aussie Open fans look forward to seeing a victory dance if you have a win at the Open?

Haha I love to dance but I’m not too sure if I’ll be able to bring out the dance moves. But if I win my first round at Aus Open their might be a little victory dance

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