"I didn't know what to expect, but I started playing really well and by the end of the year it was some of my best tennis.

"Going into this year, I've done everything I possibly can and I'm hoping to build on the last six months."

It would not have escaped the right-hander and her coach, David Taylor, who took Alicia Molik to world No.8 in 2005, of the potential to climb the rankings.

Winning a few rounds in Brisbane and then in the Sydney International (January 11-18) would have her knocking on the door of the top 30 by the time the Australian Open begins on January 19.

"It would be nice to do that, but I haven't really thought about rankings and where I want to be at the end of the summer," Stosur said.

"The focus is playing well and hopefully that means I'll win a lot of matches and that (ranking) will take care of itself. But if I can finish January or February inside the top 30, then I'd be very happy with that."

Stosur's doubles results are outstanding with 22 titles, including four Grand Slams. She would be sick of people bringing up her singles ...

"I think it gives me a little bit more security, having the income from my job,” Steffensmeier said. “It allows me, hopefully, to let the assets accrue for a while, and then we’ll see in the coming years.”

In the meantime, her decision robs her of afternoons with her main reason for retiring.

Emily Steffensmeier, now 33, suffers from chronic exhaustion and pain brought on by nervous system disorders and Lyme disease. She depends on her mother for meals, medicine packs, laundry, rides for appointments and errands and other daily activities.

Five years ago, Renee Steffensmeier felt stretched thin and began a phased retirement to focus on caregiving.

“I thought if I was financially able, I would retire early,” she said. “And I thought I was in good financial shape.”

Over a 30-year career, she had saved $750,000 in her Teachers Insurance and Annuity-College Retirement Equities Fund, which provides a pension, and other investments. She also chose early Social Security benefits amounting to $1,200 a month.

She counted on the money sustaining her for 20 to 30 years, but after a third of it vanished in retirement, she began worrying about the future.

“I thought, ‘I just can’t keep taking this money out,’ ” she said.

Support comes from her ex-husband, who covers much of Emily’s medical costs, such as for massages and antibiotic shots. But Steffensmeier pays the household bills, and her daughter’s special dietary needs are not cheap. Reluctantly, she looked for a job.

Unsure of her ...