MELBOURNE, Australia –  For players like Andrea Arnaboldi, 28, life can change in a hurry.

The Italian, ranked No. 161, traveled all the way to Australia only to lose in the first round of qualifying to Mischa Zverev.

Then, he hung around. On Jan. 15, he was a volley practice partner for countrywoman Sara Errani.

Fast forward two weeks (after losing in the first round of singles qualifying in Montpellier), he’s in the semi-finals of the doubles with a pretty decent partner, Marc Lopez of Spain. He guaranteed himself at least 3,500 Euros.

The irony, of course, is that he made nearly as much losing in the first round of Oz qualies – $4,500 AU.