Blake Ellis goes alone into round 3 of the AO qualifiers

After 11 Australian men started the Australian Open qualifying a few day ago, it is just Blake Ellis that still remains with a chance to reach the main draw.

Dane Sweeny was the only other Aussie to reach round two and he was bundled out in straight sets. Losing to (17) Jaime Faria (POR) 6-2, 6-2.

Ellis won his match against Japan’s Yosuke Watunuki (JPN) 6-1, 6-4. The Japanese player having just come from Canberra where he was forced to default a quarterfinal match.

Ellis quickly got through the first set but then was made to work a bit harder in the second set.

The Australian’s best achievement to date is winning the ITF M25 tournament in his hometown of Brisbane back in November.

Ellis will face Germany’s Dominik Koepfer, the no. 1 seed in the qualifying and the current world no. 123. The German has been as high as no. 49 just under a year ago.