Samantha Crawford is making a name for herself to start 2016. The 20-year-old American began the season ranked at number 142, but will be moving up in the rankings after a great start to the season.

Crawford Takes Brisbane by Storm

No one thought much of Samantha Crawford coming into the Brisbane International. Now, she is in the semifinals after racing through qualifying, and upsetting Belinda Bencic and former finalist Andrea Petkovic in the last two rounds. Crawford has lost just 13 games in those two matches combined. So, what should we make of the American as she heads into her first-ever WTA-level semifinal against Victoria Azarenka?

Game Still Maturing

First, Samantha Crawford's game is still developing at 20-years of age. She qualified for the U.S. Open at age 17 in 2012, before losing to Laura Robson in the first Round of the main draw. She won the USTA's three week Wild Card playoff to reach the main draw in Flushing Meadows again last year. There, she lost to fellow American Irina Falconi. Her only other Grand Slam experience was at the French Open in 2013, losing in the second round to Vania King. She has never attempted to play the Australian Open or Wimbledon, although that will change this season. She is already slated to take part in the main draw of the Australian Open as a wild card entry.

Second, she has power. Crawford blasted 26 aces in her three matches in Brisbane, including ten against Priscilla Hon in the opening round and 13 against Bencic. She is winning 68.2 percent of her first serve points so far this week and the American has not dropped a set in reaching the semifinals. She is also solidly built. At six feet two inches tall, her raw power and serve should only develop and get better. That power has enabled her to win 11 of 20 break points in her three main draw wins thus far.

Future Beginning To Look Bright

She is a bit short on experience as she's played mostly ITF events, compiling a career 113-95 record on that level. She has won one singles title at that level. It will be interesting to see how she fares once she consistently plays events on the WTA Tour. Overall, it's hard to predict exactly what Crawford's future holds, until she plays more main draw matches at the highest level. Regardless of the outcome of her match against Azarenka though, it will be exciting to see her progress as she has announced herself as a player to watch with a banner start to the new season.