United States' Danielle Collins makes a backhand return to Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic during their semifinal at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. Collins was a finalist in the 2017 RBC Pro Challenge in Tyler.(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Local tennis fans are getting a glance of the future each year at the RBC Pro Challenge.

It appears the future is now.

If you have tuned in for the Australian Open, you might recognize a few names who have made a stop at Tyler Athletic and Swim Club each fall.

At the top of the list is 2017 RBC Pro Challenge singles finalist Danielle Collins, who reached the semifinals of the 107th Australian Open.

Collins made an incredible run in Melbourne, including a 6-0, 6-2 win over No. 2 Angelique Kerber of Germany in the Round of 16 on Saturday.

The performance in the major has lifted the former University of Virginia two-time NCAA tennis champion to No. 23 in the world. That is a career high.

Collins reached the semifinals before falling to Petra Kvitova on Thursday in Melbourne, Australia. Kvitova, of the Czech Republic, won 7-6 (2), 6-0.

Collins is one of many players who competed professionally in Tyler and has enjoyed success on tour.

American Amanda Anisimova, who also was in the RBC Pro Challenge main draw in 2017, reached the fourth round in Australia and is the highest ranked player in the world under 18.

Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, an RBC Pro Challenge semifinalist in 2018, captured the Hopman Cup title in January alongside partner Roger Federer. She is currently ranked No. 41 in the world.

Sofia Kenin, who reached the Tyler singles semifinals in 2017, recently captured her first WTA title in Hobart. The American has a career high ranking of No. 37.

Also, 2018 champion and 16-year-old American Whitney Osuigwe made her Australian Open debut after clinching the USTA wild card. She lost in a tight three-set match (7-6, 6-7, 6-3 to Canadian Bianca Andreescu) in the first round, but still looks to be one of the most promising young professionals in the world.

Other former RBC Pro Challenge players include USA’s Christina McHale, Varvara Lepchenko (now a naturalized citizen of the U.S. who formerly played for Uzbekistan) and American Nicole Gibbs, among others.

Each year the future stars of women’s tennis arrive in Tyler for the RBC Pro Challenge. The 2019 tournament will once again be held at Tyler Athletic and Swim Club, and is set for Oct. 27 through Nov. 3.

For more information, visit: www.RBCProChallenge.com. For tournament sponsorship and inquiries, contact Scott McCulloch at s.mcculloch@cliffdrysdale.com.