Whether it is playing cards with her family or indulging in a spot of table tennis with friends, Croatia’s Petra Marcinko hates losing and is “ready to win”.

It is that mentality and outlook which has propelled the 16-year-old to the summit of the junior rankings ahead of a maiden appearance at the Australian Open Junior Championships, which begin on Saturday.

Marcinko’s ascent follows a blistering end to the 2021 campaign as she chalked up career-best victories at Grade A events in Cape Town and Plantation and ended the year as the planet’s top-ranked girl.

Such an accolade ensured she was crowned an ITF World Champion, becoming the first junior player from Croatia to achieve the feat, although the focus is now the future, starting with her latest Junior Grand Slam tilt in Melbourne.

“This is the only Grand Slam I haven’t played yet and the only continent I’ve never been on before, so I am really looking forward to it,” Marcinko told itftennis.com. “As with the other Grand Slams, this is something special. Just being a part of it means a lot to me.

“I am proud to be ranked No. 1 in the world and to enter this Junior Grand Slam as the No. 1 girl, but at the same time I don’t put any pressure on myself because of that. There will be so many good girls there and there is no favourite to win the Australian Open.

“Of course, winning a Junior Grand Slam would be a huge thing, but at the same time the main goal this season is to work hard to be a better player. There are no specific goals for me in 2022, I’ll just try to improve my tennis as much as I can.”

To boost her progression and development, Marcinko is one of 44 players, both professional and junior, to be awarded financial assistance through an ITF-administered Grand Slam Player Development Programme Grant in 2022.

The Player Grants are funded by the Grand Slam Player Development Programme, which was originally established in 1986 to encourage and increase competitive opportunities in developing tennis regions.

With annual contributions from the four Grand Slam tournaments, the programme assists players directly, through touring teams or travel grants – now known as Grand Slam Player Development Programme Grants, to gain international competitive experience.

Marcinko will receive a grant of $25,000 as a contribution towards competition-related costs this season, with the overriding aim being her tennis development and ability to compete at Grand Slam tournaments.

“This is something that makes me really proud and thankful,” she said. “I know how difficult it can be to finance a junior tennis player and I am happy that it makes my parents more relaxed about the financial situation. I am so thankful for the Grand Slam Player Grant.”

A keen reader whose favourite subjects at school are maths and geography, Marcinko also gained valuable experience within the professional ranks during 2021, competing at six ITF World Tennis Tour events and winning 12 matches.

The intention is to kick on this season and build on her successful showing during the previous campaign, although whatever the setting or prize on offer, Marcinko is unlikely to take defeat lying down.

Judging by her rhetoric, hard work and endeavour will underpin everything she does as she plots a way to maximise her undoubted talent and the considerable potential which has been showcased to significant effect in recent months.

“I started playing tennis when I was six years old and I loved it from the beginning and never even tried any other sport,” added Marcinko. “I believe that a love for tennis and hard work is the only way to have any chance to be successful at any level.

“2021 was a great and unforgettable year for me. My team and I don’t make specific plans about ranking achievements, but the plan for last season in my head was to be a top-10 junior and get some experience from ITF professional tournaments.

“What happened was above my expectations and I feel really happy and proud about what my team and I did. Of course, it brings more expectation, but I believe in hard work and that hard work always pays off.”