Preston’s triumph secured Australia’s place in the Cup finals in November, after Rodionova and Daria Saville secured victories on Friday.
“That’s sort of how I play and how I like to play, aggressively, so even though I lost that first game I was like ‘you know it’s OK, that’s just the first game, there’s still so much to go’,” Preston said.
“I really didn’t even think about it that much, getting the break, I just stuck to how I plan what I do, and I know that can get me good results.
Rising Australian tennis player Taylah Preston.Credit: Getty Images
“I was super nervous walking out, but after a couple of games I had loosened up a little bit and then just thought ‘OK, just focus on the court, don’t try and look around too much and see everyone in the stands’.
“Being able to wear the green and gold it’s extremely special for me, and hopefully it’s not my [only] time and I get to wear it many more times.”
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Saturday’s emphatic victory could prove the launch pad for a breakout season for Preston, after the world No.136 was sidelined for the 2023 summer due to a back injury.
Fresh off her maiden appearance in a grand slam at this year’s Australian Open – a first round loss to 19th seed Elina Svitolina – the wunderkind is preparing to now test her abilities on the WTA tour in a bid to crack the top 100 by the end of the year.
“I have my ranking goals that I set for myself, and we try and beat those goals as much as we can,” Preston said.
“Obviously as I start playing high-level tournaments and playing high ranked opponents everything’s going to become a little bit tougher.
“But I’m ready to embrace those new challenges and everything, at the moment this is really new for me so it’s all very cool and very fun, and I’m learning a lot.
“At the moment we’re just taking it one step at a time, being top 130, top 120, sort of smaller steps as they go.
“Obviously, I would be great to be able to crack the top 100, but I’m not looking that far ahead and just taking it one step at a time.”