Champion one week, out in the first round the next for Hon

Australia’s Priscilla Hon won the ACT Claycourt International #1 title last week and then faced Maddison Inglis in round one of the #2 edition.

Hon had defeated the no. 1 seed Olivia Gadecki in three sets, a match played in oppresive conditions, to claim the 60k title.

In much cooler weather it was Inglis that got the better of Hon, taking the match 6-7(2, 7-6(5), 7-6(5). The two players were on court for 3 hours and 34 minutes.

Just last week Inglis took 3 hours and 58 minutes to advance from round one against Alana Parnaby. The next day Inglis was no match for Destanee Aiava.

In today’s match Hon was up a break in the second set but could not close out the match. Inglis kept alive, taking the tiebreaker.

Both players broke twice in the third set before it went again to a breaker. Inglis raced out to a 6-1 lead before Hon got back to 5-6 only to see a good deep shot from Inglis force an error to claim the match.

Gadecki also had a tough match defeating qualifier Kaylah McPhee 7-6(3), 7-6(2).

Former world no. 47 from China Wang Ya Fan had a good win over Japan’s Chihiro Muramatsu 6-2, 6-1.

Wang is on the comeback trial after not having played since May 2022 before playing the Australian pro tour.

Wang has played in two grass court tournaments on grass in Swan Hill where she reached the quarterfinals and then the final before losing first round in Canberra last week.

After coming through qualifying Wang set herself up for a good week in Canberra and took the win today.

Gadecki is looking to go one better this week and she faces Irina Ramialison in round two.

Inglis has a tough match in store against last week’s semifinalist from Japan Haruka Kaji.