Earlier this month as she made her comeback from injury, Schumacher took out the Blacktown Autumn Gold women’s singles and doubles crowns. It was the biggest moment of her career thus far.

In the singles draw of the Australian Money Tournament, Schumacher dropped just one set on her way to the title and along the way beat number one seed and top-50 nationally ranked female Lisa Mays.

That 6-3, 6-2 win – which the unseeded Schumacher sealed in 98 minutes – was one which her parents Rod and Allyson were court-side for. 

“She came off an injury, so that was her first tournament back where she’s really been healthy,” Rod said.

“To come out in your first tournament when you’ve pretty much only been doing training, it’s a good effort to win the tournament.

“She took out the number one seed in the second round, she’s is ranked 48^th in Australia.

“We got there just as that started. She played the first game and she served and you could just tell she was sharp. The first game she put four awesome points together and she just continued on from there.”

The 17-year-old, who had overcome an upper-arm injury and shin splints, went on to beat Sonia Balic 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 in the final.

After spending more than 2½ hours on court in that final, she teamed with Krystal Clarke to take out the doubles decider 6-4, 7-5 over number two seeds Balic and Mays.

Schumacher, who is now ranked 85 in Australia, will continue to play in Australian Money Tournaments. But she will also test herself in Pro Tour and Junior International Tennis Federation events as she takes the next steps in her career.

“ITF Juniors, you basically get points purely towards junior rankings, but that can get you into the Australian Junior Open and all that sort of stuff,” Rod explained.

“The AMTs, which is what she won at Blacktown, you get Australian ranking points, but not world points. At the Pro Tour events, that’s where you get the world points.”