Hunter marks rise to world No.1 by choosing new doubles partner – The Age

“Even this year, I had a really great year, and coming into end-of-year finals, I was sitting at No.3 in the world, and knew there was a little chance, but I didn’t want to believe it, just in case it didn’t happen. How could it happen to me? I’m just Storm.”

Hunter’s husband, Loughlin, who she married this time last year, resulting in her having one of the best names in world spot – was in Cancun for the moment.

“We just looked at each other and smiled, and didn’t say anything,” she said. “I just had this moment of disbelief.”

The pair have been in a relationship for the past nine years, but Loughlin took the major step this year to quit his job as a key account manager to join his wife full-time on the tour, while still studying business online.

“If one career was to be possibly compromised, then it’s mine,” Loughlin said.

“Storm’s worked incredibly hard, and she is where she is now for no other reason than the hard work, dedication and perseverance – all the right attributes to succeed, she’s got them. No one deserves it more than her.”

Hunter won more than $1.1 million in prizemoney this year, a far cry from when she launched her comeback after the 2019 Australian Open from a serious shoulder injury with only $1000 in the bank.

Loughlin was effectively paying the bills for both of them, with Hunter briefly resorting to coaching at Wesley College and alongside Michael Logarzo at Parkdale Tennis Club, then coding matches at the Australian Open.

“I was like, ‘If this is my life, and tennis is over as a professional player, I still love the game and want to be involved’,” she said. “But I started feeling better, and I was lucky to have the support of Loughie and people around me, and I always felt that I owed it to them to at least give it a go.”

That shoulder setback wiped out Hunter’s 2018 season, and was the continuation of a horror run of injuries, including to her back, ankles, hamstrings and more.

However, a breakthrough came in her last extended break from the sport when a doctor diagnosed her with an autoimmune condition, ankylosing spondylitis. Once that was treated, the other problems went away, paving the way for Hunter to play the best tennis of her life.

That rollercoaster journey is why she became emotional reflecting on her extraordinary rise.

“I kind of look back, and I’m like, ‘Oh, wow, I needed that to happen to get to here’, and the journey when all the bad that’s happened, and the good, of course, it is all worth it,” Hunter said.

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Although considered a doubles specialist at this point, Hunter qualified for, or received a wildcard into, the singles draw at all four grand slams this year, and boasts a career-high singles ranking of No.119.

Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup captain Alicia Molik even urged Hunter to follow in the footsteps of Ash Barty and Casey Dellacqua, who both parlayed their doubles success into strong singles careers.

“I’m sitting back and reflecting on my year and the goals that I have achieved, [and] my singles career is something I really want to focus on,” Hunter said.

“I definitely feel like I still have a lot to achieve with my singles, and now it’s just working out the balance between my doubles and singles. Obviously, being world No.1; I want to keep that – I don’t want to just let that go, and I have goals in doubles I want to achieve as well. I haven’t won a slam yet, so that’s a big goal for 2024.”

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