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By Erik Gudris / Sunday, December 22, 2013

 

Add Sachia Vickery to the list of rising American women who are poised for big things next year. Learn more about the winner of this weekend's Australian Open Wild Card Playoffs.

Photo Credit: Tennis Now

With a compelling backstory and keen eye for the future, Sachia Vickery proved she is a player to watch in 2014. Learn more about this rising American player.

1. Hollywood Girl: Vickery was born May 11, 1995, in Hollywood, Florida.

2. A Dollar Racquet: When she was very young, a then 5-1/2-year old Vickery asked her mother to buy her a $1 racquet. Vickery then took up the sport with earnest.

3. Double Duty: To help support her daughter's passion for the sport, Vickery's mother worked two jobs. One as an online advisor with Kaplan and another working as a bartender at night.

4. Learning the French Way: Though Vickery grew up in Florida, she moved to France to work at the Patrick Mouratoglou Tennis Academy for several years. Recently, Vickery moved back to Florida to train with USTA Development in Boca Raton, Florida. Her coach now is Kathy Rinaldi.

5. 2013 Breakthrough: Vickery won the USTA Girls 18's National Championships earlier this summer. That result awarded her with a wild card berth into the main draw of the US Open. Vickery won her opening round match against former Wimbledon semifinalist Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.

6. Wildcard Wonder: Though she almost didn't make it into the Australian Open Wild Card Playoffs, Vickery secured a spot into the draw. She went onto upset No. 2 seed Madison Brengle, Grace Min and then Victoria Duval in the final. Her reward: a spot into next month's Australian Open.

Read: Vickery Beats Duval to Win Australian Open Wild Card Playoffs

7. Idol Worship: Growing up, Vickery admired Serena Williams, Jennifer Capriati and Martina Hingis. Vickery says that she tries to hit her high backhand like Hingis against taller players.

8: Playing Style: “I think it’s because I’m not as big as most girls, so I have to try to work my way into more points,” said Vickery, who stands 5-foot-5. “So, I use that to push them back and earn more room, because I’m not the tallest person out there. So, I just use that to get back in points."

9: On Winning the Wild Card: "I think a week and a half from now when I'm in Auckland playing, then it will hit me when I'm playing a match," Vickery said with a laugh. "But now I can't process anything."

10. Social Savvy: Follow Sachia on Twitter @SachiaVick

(Source: USTA)

 

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