She may well have a love for reading World War Two books but it is career-elevating victories in the latter stages of 2019 which have left American Robin Montgomery battle-hardened.

Montgomery, who is the highest-seeded player remaining in the Australian Open girls’ draw following Elsa Jacquemot’s second-round elimination, is now one win away from the quarter-finals after overcoming Slovenia’s Pia Lovric 6-3 7-5.

The teenager enjoyed an extremely progressive end to the previous campaign as she won all seven matches she contested as USA were crowned Junior Fed Cup by BNP Paribas champions for a third successive year in September.

More was to follow as Montgomery claimed the maiden Grade A title of her career as she dispatched all before her at the prestigious Orange Bowl tournament at Plantation in December.

“After winning the Orange Bowl and Junior Fed Cup, I definitely feel more confident coming into tournaments such as Junior Grand Slams,” Montgomery told itftennis.com.

“It helped me realise that I do belong here and that I can compete against the other girls playing big tournaments. It also made me realise that I can be one of the top players.”

Montgomery’s evolution is even more impressive given she is only 15 and her fellow competitors at tournaments can be up to three years older. Her third-round opponent, for instance, is 17-year-old Australian qualifier Olivia Gadecki.

“I enjoy playing players who are older than me. I feel less pressure – I like playing them,” said Montgomery, who revealed that as a left-hander she can hit a right-handed overhead smash.

Montgomery will have to continue her penchant for outwitting players with greater experience if she is to achieve her 2020 goals and make an imprint on professional tournaments.

That pathway is certainly something at the forefront of her mind and she has sought the counsel of some well-established names in order to be forearmed and forewarned about such a transition.

“Coming from JTCC, Frances Tiafoe and Denis Kudla train there so I started looking up to them and asking them for advice about turning pro and what the experience of professional life is like,” said Montgomery.

That is for the future, however. Her immediate concern is reaching the last eight of a Junior Grand Slam for the first time and she intends to do so by following the guidance which has served her so well up to this point.

“My coaches always tell me before I go on court that ‘there is always going to be one winner and one loser’,” added Montgomery, who growing up had a pet tarantula.

“For me, that helps me get through matches and reminds me that I have to enjoy myself on court. No matter what the end result, I know that I am the same person and people will still support me whether I win or lose.”

Other players proving that age is little barrier to success are Alexandra Eala of the Philippines and Andorra’s Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, who are both aged 14 and have reached the third round of the girls’ draw.

No. 4 seed Eala progressed after defeating Julie Belgraver of the Netherlands 6-0 3-6 6-1 and will now face No. 16 seed Hong Yi Cody Wong of Hong Kong for a place in the quarter-finals.

Jimenez Kasintseva, meanwhile, who is seeded ninth in Melbourne, will play Italy’s Melania Delai for a place in the last eight after overpowering Czech Republic’s Kristyna Lavickova 7-6(5) 6-0 in round three.