Hon’s Journey to Tennis Breakthrough After Berlin Loss

BRISBANE, Australia — Australian tennis player Lizette Hon is reflecting on her transformative summer season, where she turned a disappointing loss into motivation for success. In June, during the qualifying rounds in Berlin, Hon led Viktoriya Tomova 7-5, 3-0 before ultimately losing the match.

“I was kind of stuck in the big points. Like, do I play safe, and wait until they miss?” Hon shared on The Sit-Down podcast. “It’s such a thin line, where you commit to it and go after it, but there’s a higher risk of missing.”

Following her Berlin defeat, Hon’s approach shifted, leading to success at Wimbledon where she progressed to the final round of qualifying. There, she faced Canadian player Victoria Mboko and saved five match points to move into the main draw for the first time at age 27. “On those match points, I just went after it, I kept playing how I would play any other point,” she said.

Since that loss, Hon has built a 13-6 record, also qualifying for the US Open and reaching the third round, marking her best result at a major tournament. Her recent triumphs include winning matches at the WTA 1000 in Beijing, where she narrowly missed a fourth-round appearance against Belinda Bencic.

“It’s huge,” Hon remarked about her ranking achievements. “I feel like I’m finally starting to live up to that,” referring to both supporters and doubters in her journey. Hon’s resilience is evident as she recalled her journey, including early successes and setbacks from injuries and loss.

“Tennis is a long journey. You learn to never give up,” she said. “There’s always doubts, but you must back yourself to move forward.” Hon believes her newfound aggressiveness on the court has revitalized her game. “I feel like I’ve unlocked a little new part of my brain,” she added.

In 2025, Hon has secured 37 singles wins, reflecting a noteworthy season. The support from fellow players such as Kimberly Birrell and Amanda Anisimova spurred her belief in her capabilities. “I’m really excited to see where I can go,” Hon concluded.