There are sometimes players on either tour who are hard to dislike. Whether it’s due to their down-to-earth persona off the court, or their never-say-die attitude on court, sometimes there’s just that certain quality about a player that attracts fans and makes them extremely likable. Casey Dellacqua is one of these players.

Typifying the “Aussie battler” on and off the court, Dellacqua has always possessed a certain allure that draws fans and crowds. Despite a world ranking of No. 78, she has made a strong start to 2014, equaling her career-best result at the Australian Open and backing that up with a quarterfinal appearance at Indian Wells, another career-best result.

Since turning pro in 2002, Dellacqua has endured a fairly tumultuous professional career with her journey on the WTA tour being interrupted by injury and the lure of a stable personal life. Plying her trade between WTA events, Futures events, and ITF events over the last 12 years, Dellacqua has struggled to gain momentum on the tour. However, recent results on grander stages suggest that she’s ready for bigger things in 2014 and beyond.

Starting the 2014 season ranked No. 130, Dellacqua’s indifferent form in Brisbane and Hobart indicated that another mediocre year was ahead of her, potentially sending her into a premature retirement. But Dellacqua found her poise under the scorching Melbourne sun as she eased past former world No. 2 Vera Zvonareva before besting world No. 18 Kirsten Flipkens. Falling short to newcomer Eugenie Bouchard in the fourth round, Dellacqua still showed that she was much more capable than her ranking suggests.

It’s one thing to perform well at your home Grand Slam and quite another to perform well abroad. But Dellacqua is grasping every opportunity she’s so far been given in the desert. Combining her well-honed all-court game with her fondness for playing in warm conditions, Dellacqua has turned heads on her way past local favorite Christina McHale as well as two seeded opponents, Flipkens and Roberta Vinci. The ease of her left-handed technique and her sturdy but small build mean that her game is extremely consistent. In most of Dellacqua’s matches during the first week of Indian Wells, opponents not only have struggled to outhit the 29-year-old but have struggled to outflank her.

She’ll face an in-form Simona Halep in the Indian Wells quarterfinal after American Lauren Davis retired before a ball was hit in the fourth round. Even if she loses that match, Dellacqua will head from Indian Wells to Miami ranked at No. 56, which is a remarkable improvement for someone who was considering retirement at the end of 2013.

After being on the WTA Tour for 12 years, Dellacqua has perhaps passed the crest of a traditional career arc. Still, there are indications that her career may just be taking off. During the Australian Open, Dellacqua was repeatedly asked about what she felt was the key to her burst in form.

“Physically I'm feeling a lot better out on the court and moving a lot better,” a fit-looking Dellacqua said. “I’ve also grown up; I got through those tough years. Everyone's got their journey. For me, that was that career. Then I had a couple of surgeries. The last couple years I worked hard to get back.”

Dellacqua also said her maturity made her a better competitor. “I think I have a lot more self-belief,” she reflected. “That probably comes from doing the hard work off the court and being able to take that into matches, knowing I've done the work and I deserve to be playing in these matches.”

Dellacqua was also asked about the times off the court when she considered calling time on her career.

“It’s all part of the journey,” she said. “Everyone gets to a certain point where they go, ‘okay, this is what I'm capable of, this is what I have to do.’ I'm glad that I've got to that point. Some players may go through their whole career and never reach their potential, or have regrets.”

After being reasonably comfortable in her first three wins, a rested Dellacqua will take a lot of confidence into the quarterfinal matchup against the sixth-seeded Halep, whom hasn’t played before. If she plays as consistently as she has in the rest of her 2014 performances, the stakes will be very even heading into the contest.