The Sydneysider came from 2-4 down in the first set to win 6-4, 6-2 against Wollongong’s Brooke Winley.

Balic, twice a runner-up in January’s Margaret Court Cup and last year the captain of the Meriden team in the World School’s Tennis Championship on the Border, said she hadn’t been at her best.

“I got better as the weekend went along,” she said.

“I knew my opponent was younger than me and I just needed to be focused, needed to be tougher.

“I led 2-0 but then all of a sudden it was 2-4.

“In the second set she made a few unforced errors and that made it a little easier.”

Balic will now head into a six-week training block ahead of some tournaments in the Northern Territory and a trip to Asia.

“The aim is to then come back to Australia and play some of the pro-tour events before the Australian wildcard playoffs,” she said.