Going into the final day of the Wimbledon men’s singles qualifying the Australian contingent were guaranteed that at least one player would advance, Alex Bolt and Thanasi Kokkinakis were scheduled to face each other. Bolt was searching for his first Wimbledon appearance.
John-Patrick Smith was looking to win through to his second Wimbledon main draw in three years and Jason Kubler was lining up for his first taste of Wimbledon as a senior player. Bernard Tomic was looking to reach his ninth main draw.
Smith was the first of the Australian men to qualify for the main draw at Wimbledon. He defeated USA’s Michael Mmoh in straight sets 6-2, 6-4, 6-3. It will be Smith’s second main draw appearance at Wimbledon and fifth grand slam appearance. He has gone 0-4 at grand slams so far.
Tomic was bundled out in straight sets. He looked to be playing injured and put up little resistance against the no. 2 seed from Belgium Ruben Bemelmans. The final score was 6-3, 6-1, 6-2. The match over in just 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Kokkinakis was struggling with a quad strain as he played for a spot in the main draw at #wimbledon2018. He was 2 sets to 0 down against fellow Australian, Alex Bolt and mounted a comeback to win the third, but it was Bolt that closed out the match to earn a main draw spot for the first time. Alex Bolt locked in a singles main-draw spot to go with his doubles wildcard with Lleyton Hewitt. Bolt beat Kokkinakis in four sets. 7-6(6), 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-5.
Australia’s Jason Kubler failed to convert on several match points against Canada’s Peter Polansky at 5-6 in the third set. Then going into a tie-breaker at 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-6 in the third set it was the Canadian that took the set. Kubler didn’t let that get to him and he came back to book a spot at Wimbledon.
For Kubler, it is a remarkable achievement. He has undergone six knee surgeries and comes back time after time. For Kubler to reach the main draw is well deserved for the 25-year-old Australian. Kubler talking after the match said a year ago he was struggling to even get through qualifying at ATP Challenger events and was coaching kids. Kubler is hoping to draw a big name so that he can at least say he had one big match at Wimbledon.
Smith, Kubler, and Bolt now join Nick Kyrgios, Matt Ebden, John Millman, Jordan Thompson, James Duckworth (PR) and Alex de Minaur (WC) in the main draw at Wimbledon.
Australian Wimbledon Singles Qualifying Results
Wimbledon Qualifying at Roehampton
Men’s
Round 1
Thanasi Kokkinakis d Marcelo Arevalo 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-4.
Jason Kubler d Arthur De Greef 6-1, 6-2
Marc Polmans lost to Matthias Bachinger 6-3, 4-6, 8-6
Alex Bolt d Quentin Halys 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-3
John-Patrick Smith d Uladzimir Ignatik 6-7(5), 6-1, 8-6
Bernard Tomic d Matteo Donati 7-6(1), 6-3
Akira Santillan lost to Tomislav Brkic 6-3, 7-6(7)
Max Purcell lost to Donald Young 6-3, 6-2
Round 2
Bernard Tomic d Tomislav Brkic (BIH) 6-2, 6-4
Jason Kubler d Adam Pavlasek (CZE) 3-6, 6-3, 12-10
John-Patrick Smith d Marcel Granollers (ESP) 6-7, 6-1, 8-6
Alex Bolt d Alexander Ward (GBR) 6-2, 6-2
Thanasi Kokkinakis d Kamil Majchrzak (POL) 6-1, 6-4
Round 3
Bernard Tomic lost to Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) 6-3, 6-1, 6-2
Jason Kubler d Peter Polansky (CAN) 7-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4
John-Patrick Smith d Michael Mmoh (USA) 6-2, 6-4, 6-3
Alex Bolt d Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-5
Women’s
Round 1
Jaimee Fourlis lost to Viktoriya Tomova (Bul) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
Priscilla Hon d Anhelina Kalinina(UKR) 6-3, 7-6(3)
Lizette Cabrera d Jana Cepelova (SVK) 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
Arina Rodionova d Jaqueline Cristian (ROU) 6-1, 7-6(5)
Round 2
Priscilla Hon lost to Jamie Loeb (USA 6-4, 6-4.
Lizette Cabrera lost to Claire Liu (USA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.
Arina Rodionova lost to Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.
