‘I’m beyond excited’ – Stunning tennis influencer Rachel Stuhlmann lands last-minute spot at Australian Open
TENNIS influencer Rachel Stuhlmann landed a shock last-minute job at the Australian Open.
The former college tennis star made a name for herself on social media with her tennis content.
But now she has managed to get herself accredited at the first Grand Slam of the new season which kicks off on Sunday.
That is because the ex-Missouri Tigers NCAA player received a shock call-up to be Varvara Lepchenko’s coach for the tournament.
Stuhlmann took to her Instagram story to give her 305,000 followers the exciting update.
She posted a snap of her official pass and wrote: “I came to the Australian Open with my own plans – just a few work commitments around the tournament but mostly to enjoy the AO experience for the first time.
“Earlier today I got a call from a good friend of mine asking if I could step in as their last-minute coach for this year’s event.
“I’m beyond excited for the chance to get on the AO courts and support her in any way I can.
“You never really know what opportunities will come your way at these events, and this one is definitely a fun one for me.
“I’m all in.
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“Here’s to making in the main – let’s go, @varyka1.”
However, it appears as though it may be a short-lived job.
Australian Open 2025 women's singles preview
By Joshua Jones
ARYNA SABALENKA is hoping to achieve something no woman has achieved this century: win a hat-trick of Australian Opens.
And few will be betting against world No1 Sabalenka rewriting the history books on January 25.
She dropped just one set in her 2023 and 2024 runs COMBINED and has looked at her imperious best Down Under in recent years.
The biggest test could come in a blockbuster semi-final with in-form Coco Gauff, fresh from beating Iga Swiatek on the way to United Cup glory for the USA.
No2 seed Swiatek’s path to the semis on the other half looks relatively straightforward – even with a third-round meeting with Emma Raducanu.
However, as Linda Noskova, Yulia Putintseva and Alize Cornet have proven in recent years, the Pole is not immune to a shock early Slam exit to an unseeded opponent.
A firing Elena Rybakina can be a serious contender and could face Swiatek in the last four, as could No4 seed Jasmine Paolini or No22 seed Katie Boulter.
Ons Jabeur is an unknown quantity after slipping out of the seeds while Spanish 11th seed Paula Badosa will be hoping to take advantage of an inviting draw.
Watch out for Emma Navarro, though, who has steadily risen up the rankings to world No8.
She reached round three, round four, the quarter-finals and the semi-finals in order at the Grand Slams last year – by that logic, the American billionaire heiress is set for a run to the final in Melbourne.
Because veteran Lepchenko, 38, was dumped out of the tournament on Thursday.
She came through two rounds of singles qualifying – including beating Brit Heather Watson in three sets – but fell at the final hurdle to Anca Todoni.
In theory, she could stick around in Melbourne and try to get in as a lucky loser if there are late withdrawals.
Lepchenko – who reached the fourth round at the 2012 French Open and 2015 US Open – is not in the women’s doubles draw and has not played mixed doubles at Major level since 2012.
She did, though, make it to the Australian Open doubles semi-finals with Zheng Saisai 12 years ago.
Stuhlmann had earlier posted a stunning photo of the clear-blue skies in Melbourne accompanied by Stevie Wonder’s Isn’t She Lovely music.
The former NCAA tennis No77 rank then added a picture of two packets of the TimTams – the famous Australian chocolate biscuits.