I think she’s one of the most – if not ‘the’ most – athletic players on tour

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday January 17, 2024

Alycia Parks sports a golden arm that can generate jaw-dropping power from the service stripe. She used that world-class serve to claim her maiden title in Lyon in 2023, defeating Caroline Garcia in the final, and reached a career-high ranking of No.40 in the world at one point last year.

Now ranked 82, Parks used that power game to earn her biggest win by ranking at a Slam on Day 4, taking out Leylah Fernandez, 7-5, 6-4.

Ahead of her third-round clash with Coco Gauff at the Australian Open, Parks is thought of as a raw talent with significant upside. Here are five things to know about the American before her moment in the spotlight.

1. She struck the fastest serve in US Open women’s singles history

That happened in 2021, when Parks slammed a 129 MPH serve on her US Open main draw debut, tying herself with Venus Williams for the fastest US Open serve on record. As of this week, Parks has tripled her haul of Grand Slam main draw victories, improving her career record at the majors to 3-4.

2. She’s got a new coach

Parks was coached by her father Michael during her formative years, and didn’t play much on the junior circuit. She explained the reasoning behind that in her press conference on Day 4 in Melbourne.

“My dad took me out of the juniors only because I was growing so fast, and he didn’t want me to get injured,” she said. “He wanted me to develop. I always wanted to go pro, and that was the goal ever since I picked up the racquet. So I think it panned out well, and I wouldn’t take any different route.”

Parks started working with Aussie coach Mark Hlawaty just a few days before the Australian Open. Since then she has won two matches to reach the third round at a major for the first time. Not bad at all.

“Mark has been working with me this week,” she said. “It’s kind of new. Well, he’s helping me out for Australian Open and hopefully in the future. I think we’re a good partnership, and we look forward to working together in the future.

“He flew in I think Friday. Thursday night or Friday. Then we had one day to prep. Then, I don’t know, we’re in the third round, so I think we’re doing pretty good together, yeah.”

3. She’s already defeated Gauff – in MIXED

At last year’s US Open, Parks and Denis Kudla defeated Gauff and Jack Sock in mixed doubles in straight sets. Parks has been a good doubles player in general, owns two titles on tour and is currently ranked 31 in the…