Grand Slams
15 down to four as Aussie women seek main draw action
At the start of the week 15 Australian women hopefuls took to the courts at Melbourne Park with the dream of qualifying for the Australian Open main draw. Now just four remain in with a chance. Australia’s highest ranked female player, Kimberly Birrell fought her way past fellow Australian Priscilla Hon. Birrell ranked at no.…
Read MoreBlake 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,…
Read MoreAussie women make a decent start in the Australian Open qualifying
Eight from 14 Australian women have advanced to the second round of qualifying for the Australian Open. Of the players that lost Jaimee Fourlis and Petra Hule had their chances to advance. Fourlis going down to Spain’s (5) Sara Sorribes Tormo in a marathon. The final score was 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-4 after three hours and…
Read MoreRecord effort in qualifying at US Open
Six Australians are through to the US Open main draw after making their way through qualifying. This is a record at the Open. The woman blazed the way with five of the six qualifiers in the women’s draw. Arina Rodionova, Maya Joint, Kimberly Birrell, Priscilla Hon, Destanee Aiava and Li Tu all qualified in New…
Read MoreWimbledon wrap for the Aussies
The 2024 Wimbledon tournament has now been played and it was a good result for Alex de Minaur in the Gentlemen’s singles and for Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson in the Gentlemen’s doubles. All three would be a bit disappointed and how the tournament ended for them. de Minaur unfortunately was forced to withdraw from…
Read MoreGadecki grabs final qualifying spot to achieve lifelong dream
Australia’s Olivia Gadecki was the last woman to earn a coveted main-draw spot at Wimbledon following a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory over France’s Elsa Jacquemot. The match was played in difficult conditions with a strong winds. Last year Gadecki would feel the disappointment of reaching this stage to only lose at the final hurdle. This…
Read MoreFrom alternate to qualifier for Bolt
Australia’s Alex Bolt was not even a starter in qualifying until 10 minutes before he was called to a round one match as an alternate. “I found out at 10.50 for an 11 o’clock start,” explained world No.234 Bolt, who was promoted into the draw as an alternate following a late withdrawal from 11th seed…
Read Morede Minaur charges into French Open quarterfinals after overcoming Medvedev
Australia’s Alex de Minaur has defeated Daniil Medvedev to advance to his first French Open quarterfinal. Embed from Getty Images In doing so de Minaur becomes the first Australian male to reach that stage of the tournament since 2004. Lleyton Hewitt was the last to get that far. Medvedev was on top early after getting…
Read MoreSinner fights back to give Medvedev an unwanted record
Italy’s Jannik Sinner has fought back from two sets down to claim his first Grand Slam singles title. Embed from Getty Images In doing so his opponent Daniil Medvedev became the first person to lose two grand slam finals after being two sets to nil ahead. Medvedev played at a high level for the first…
Read MoreSabalenka cruises to her second Australian Open title
Back in 2012 and 2013 Victoria Azarenka won back-to-back Australian Open titles. Embed from Getty Images 2023-24 has seen her countrywoman repeat the achievement. Aryna Sabalenka defeating China’s Zheng Qingwen 6-3, 6-2. Azarenka was the last to win 2 straight titles. Like back in 2013 it was a Chinese player that took on the defending…
Read More