AUSTRALIA may have just discovered a future starin-the-making .

Filipino-Australian tennis sensation Lizette Cabrera , 20 , is starting to make some serious noise in the tennis world , and she is only just beginning to scratch the surface .

The young hotshot born and raised in Townsville , Queensland is a professional tennis player from Brisbane City and officially ranked 157 on the Women ’ s Tennis Association ( WTA ) Tour .

Cabrera ’ s parents discovered her tennis talent early on and encouraged her to play the sport . They relocated to Brisbane to fast-track her development at the National Academy .

After turning pro in 2012 , there was no looking back for Cabrera .

In 2015 , Cabrera made a breakthrough and won two International Tennis Federation ( ITF ) singles titles : One in Brisbane and another at Tweed Heads .

By MARCO ANDRE SELORIO

She finished that year ranked 1062 in the world . It was a promising start for the dreamy-eyed youngster .

The jet-setting Cabrera put in the hard yards and continued to climb up the WTA ladder .

Two years later , her world ranking shot up into the Top 200 .

She has already played twice at the Australian Open , and represented Australia at the Federation Cup .

Cabrera currently ranks as the sixth-best female tennis player in Australia , quite an achievement for this charming tennis ace . “ Trust the process ,” Cabrera says . Now she is hell-bent on making the Top

100 sooner rather than later . She has modelled her game after tennis

champ Victoria Azarenka , and draws inspiration from former world No 1 , Serena Williams .

On the court , Cabrera mixes it up with finesse and clever net play . Her weapon of choice is her right-handed forehand . Despite all her success , tries to focus on the bigger picture . Cabrera continues to put in the hours and the hard work to improve her game .

Sponsorship has been elusive but she remains patient , enjoying every experience and blessing that comes her way .

During her downtime , she likes to dance and see TENNIS , page 19

LIZETTE CABRERA after scoring a point .