develop into?

[Devo]

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #167 "Action verbs and sports expressions", question 3

Martina Navratilova ......... into one of the world's greatest tennis players.

(a) excelled
(b) played
(c) developed
(d) established

English Language Tests, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #167 "Action verbs and sports expressions", answer 3

Martina Navratilova developed into one of the world's greatest tennis players.

Correct answer: (c) developed
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What's the meaning of develop into in this sentence?
Thanks

[Beeesneees]

She became one of the world's greatest tennis players. (At the start of her career, she wasn't the world's greatest. She had to work at it.)
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Cheers m' dears!