Appleton has balanced this with some strong success in her singles game as well, where she qualified for her first WTA event at the Rothesay Open Nottingham back in the summer.

With a few months left to go in an already hugely positive season, we caught up with the young Brit to chat about her highlights, closing in on the doubles top 100 and her ambitions for the rest of 2023.

You’ve had a strong year so far; how would you sum it up?

I am really happy with the year I have had so far, which goes back to the October last year where I won my first W25 singles title in Lougborough, coming through qualifying winning seven matches in a row.

That, as well as qualifying for my first WTA 250 event in Nottingham has really given me confidence and I am enjoying seeing the progress that I am making and the results that are coming my way as a result.  

This year I have been trying to build both my singles and doubles rankings up and have seen career highs in both, so I am happy with the progress and motivated to keep moving forward. 

You’ve already picked up two W60 doubles titles this year – your biggest titles yet – what do you think has been different about this year to far?

Winning the two W60 titles and reaching my first W100 final are some of my highlights from my year so far.

I think having the same partner for all events helped to build momentum and establish a good relationship and partnership.

We actually saved a match point in the first round of the first W60 that we won, and I think that shows how small the margins are within this sport. Anything can happen at any time and so it’s just a matter of believing in myself and my game and then taking the opportunities to move forward like I did in these tournaments, because after that first round win, we really started to develop a successful game plan and execute perfectly.

You’re edging closer to the WTA doubles top 100 – an incredible achievement, what would that mean to you?

Achieving a top 100 ranking would be an incredible achievement and one I would be immensely proud of.

I definitely believe that my game is strong enough to be within the top 100 and so I am motivated to keep working to try and get there soon. 

You play a lot of singles as well, reaching your first WTA main draw in Nottingham – what are the main differences for you in playing singles and doubles?

I really enjoy playing both singles and doubles. I think playing both disciplines compliment my overall game and enables me to develop different shots and patterns. It also enables me to play more matches which is important for me.

The main difference between singles and doubles is just having that person by your side on the doubles court compared to feeling more alone in singles and having to work things out individually. Both are important aspects to experience in my opinion. This year I have reached career-highs in both singles and doubles, so I am ready to keep pushing forward. 

There’s a strong British contingent coming through in women’s doubles – do you feel inspired and motivated by their achievements too?

I definitely think with so many Brits doing well that we are pushing each other to be better. Having familiar faces going through the same transitions and playing the same events is great and makes the travelling and tournament experiences easier too which ultimately also creates more chance for success. 

Have you set yourself any other goals that you want to reach this year?

Obviously making the top 100 in doubles is a goal of mine that I want to achieve soon.

In singles I also believe I have large scope for growth and so want to keep pushing and building my game forwards which in turn will make jumps to my ranking. I will continue working to become a better tennis player and then the rankings will take care of themselves.