Maddison Inglis is trying not to think about the money her brilliant Australian Open run is raking in for her - but she already recognises the windfall is a potential game changer for her career.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 24-year-old from Perth is the only other Australian woman left in the singles, alongside world No.1 Ash Barty, after battling into the third round where she'll face a winnable tie against veteran Estonian Kaia Kanepi.
Should the wildcard prevail in Saturday's last-32 match against world No.115 Kanepi, who's only 18 places higher on the WTA computer than No.133 Inglis, then she will pick up a cool $328,000 in prize money.
Not that she thinks it will help her to dwell on this potential monster pay-day.
"It's incredible. The prize money is something that I try really hard not to think about," said Inglis, after being told her second round win over American Hailey Baptiste had already netted her $221,000.
"I actually haven't thought about it at this tournament very much at all, which I think has helped me out there,"
"If you're thinking about stuff out there, it's hard to focus on the things that you need to be focusing on."
But her maiden grand slam win in the opening round against an out-of-sorts 23rd seed Leylah Fernandez, Canada's exciting US Open finalist, did open up a path to unexpected riches amid a kind draw for Inglis.
"It's going to be a huge help for me this year," she said of the windfall.
"It's going to take a little bit of pressure off just me, financially.
"It's obviously quite expensive travelling, hiring a coach. Not being able to come back to Australia, you're on the road for a long time.
"I'm pretty grateful to have some of that stress taken off."
Kanepi, who's won four WTA tournaments, has been around the tennis block, having once been ranked in the world's top 15.
But that was a decade ago and, at 36, Inglis has a glorious opportunity to make it to the last-16 after four previous failed attempts to even win a match at a grand slam.
Victory would also take her, potentially, into the world's top 100 for the first time.
She reckons she could get used to this taste of the high life.
"I hope it becomes a regular thing. It would be incredible. It feels a little bit surreal at the moment to be in the third round of a slam," she said.
"To play out there on Margaret Court is something that you dream about. I'm feeling really grateful and lucky."
Australian Associated Press
