West Australian Storm Hunter eyeing massive 2023 after mixed-doubles grand slam title, getting married in 2022

Storm Hunter is hoping with her new name comes new fortunes on the singles court as she looks to prove that she’s better than her ranking suggests at this month’s Australian Open. From winning her maiden mixed-doubles grand slam to getting married and changing her name to one of the best on the WTA tour – 2022 is going to be hard to top for the WA tennis star. On the court the 28-year-old is in her prime, beginning the new season ranked world No.10 in doubles and receiving the perfect wedding present from Tennis Australia in a wildcard entry to the Open’s main singles draw. Hunter will step onto Melbourne Park on the back of a career-best year and she hopes to use her experience from several big matches to push past the second round of a grand slam for the first time. “It’s always hard with a grand slam because you can play the No.1 player in the world first round or someone ranked 80 or 90,” the world No.241 said. “For me, I really back my game at the moment. I’ve been playing consistently well, I feel like my level’s much higher than my ranking and at the same time, I have some really good experiences against top-level players. “At last year’s Australian Open, I played Aryna Sabalenka, she was the second seed, and I took her to three sets on Rod Laver Arena. “I played Leylah Fernandez in Canada, in front of her home crowd in a night-time match on the stadium court and also lost in three sets. “I feel like those experiences, even though they were losses, they helped me with my game and helped me believe my level is there.” Easily the on-court highlight of Hunter’s 2022 was winning the US Open mixed doubles with fellow Australian John Peers. Hunter also made the semifinals of the women’s doubles with American Caroline Dolehide in a fortnight to remember. The West Australian will now embark on a fresh partnership, linking up with Belgian and fellow top.10 doubles star Elise Mertens to form a super team. “She messaged me to see what I was planning this year and I hadn’t set a full-time partner,” Hunter said. “I was leaving it open for a little bit and we sat down in person in Texas when I was there for the WTA finals. “We want to try to play the bigger tournaments together and when we’re at the same events. She’s obviously an amazing player and I’ve played against her a lot. “I was lucky to have that conversation with her.” Hunter and Mertens will have little time to find chemistry ahead of the Australian Open, but given their long-time friendship there’s the confidence they can build it quickly. “It’s always a little bit different that first time because you both can have your weapons, your strengths but sometimes you might not click,” Hunter said. “For me, I need to feel really comfortable with them. Even just off the court, feeling comfortable how we’re going to talk about our gameplan and everyone has their routines on court and whatnot. “We’ll need to have a few practices before the Australian Open, just to try to get the feel of what it’s like to be on the same side together because sometimes that comes quite easily or sometimes you need to work on it a bit harder.” One experience Hunter is never going to be able to replicate again is winning another doubles title alongside former world No.1 and good friend Ash Barty. The two won the Adelaide International last year, just before Barty would dominate the Australian Open, her final grand slam before her premature retirement. The three-time grand slam winner’s exit from the game opened the opportunity for Hunter to step up for Australia in the Billie Jean Cup finals, where she put in some strong performances in the singles and doubles. And while Hunter knows she can always turn to Barty for advice on her game or opponent, tennis is rarely part of their conversations. “We’re really good friends, we stay in touch and throughout the year she messages me at times when I’ve had a good result or even just to catch up,” Hunter said. “We’ll definitely catch up but probably not at the tennis. We’ll grab a coffee and talk about life and whatnot. “I know she’s always there if I have a tough opponent or someone she played many times, I feel really comfortable to message her and ask her for any advice, but at the same time it’s nice to have someone that you are friends with that we don’t talk about tennis that much too.”