Tesni Evans has vowed to kick on in 2019 as she targets a place in the top five in the world.
The Cardiff-born player will be back home in St Asaph over Christmas having already achieved one of her goals for the season.
But the world No 9 is already looking to her next target as she returns to competition at next month’s Tournament of Champions in New York.
“My big target at the start of the season was to break into the top 10, but now I have achieved that there is no way I want to stop there and rest on my laurels,” Evans told psaworldtour.com.
“I know there are parts of my game I will have to improve to keep climbing the rankings as there is a big leap to get into the top eight and then another one to make the top five, but the key to that will be hard work.”
Evans has become the highest ranked Welsh woman in history in 2018 partly thanks to performances like the US Open where she reached the semi-finals.
Tesni Evans . . . Top Ten On The Planet And You’ve Probably Just Walked Past Her
And at the recent Monte Carlo Classic she went all the way to the final before losing out in five tough sets to England’s Laura Massaro.
But it has all given her confidence as she targets the Tournament of Champions and then the World Championships in Chicago.
“After making the final at the Monte Carlo Classic last week it’s been great to come back home to St Asaph in Wales,” added the 26-year-old.
“But although it’s good to be back to catch up with family and friends this is a really important time to build for the second-half the season.
“I am coached by my dad Andrew and by David Evans, the former World No.3 and if I am to kick-on in the second-half of the season then I must make some sacrifices this Christmas.
“It’s vital I make the most of the training block I have over the next few weeks before returning to competition for the Tournament of Champions in New York later in January.
“That said I’m chuffed to be at a career high of number nine and really excited about the second-half of the season and especially the World Championships in Chicago because that’s where I want to be peaking.”