Cici Bellis now finds herself in the third round of the Australian Open after upsetting #20 Muchova in the second round. Just two months ago she was playing and losing in the round of 16 of a Challenger Series tournament in Houston. For those that are not familiar with Challenger tournaments, it would be the equivalent of AA Baseball. Also, that tournament in November was her first tournament in two years.

Cici Bellis had four surgeries in those two years. One had to wonder that for someone so young, and who’s career had barely started before the surgeries, if these surgeries would derail the momentum she had in 2017 as an 18 year old. She posted solid results throughout the tour that year and was ranked as high as #35 in the world. She finished ranked #60 and that’s when her troubles began.

All that is past now. I watched her win against Muchova, and Cici Bellis is a solid pro. She’s quick, gets to everything with purpose and has quite a fight in her. She stands at only 5’ 7’ and from afar looks a bit slight for a tennis player. Don’t let that fool you though, this young lady is as athletic as they come, and given the headaches that she gave Muchova in the second round, it’s apparent that her body is stronger and fitter than it was two years ago.

She will be a nightmare to play against in the tour this year. But before she begins to be a nightmare on tour for anyone who faces her, this dark horse will face off against Elise Mertens in the third round of the 2020 Australian Open. World number 16 Mertens will need to be on her game if she’s looking to get through. Bellis is hungry and will not miss. It should be a heck of a match.