The Australian Open qualifying wrapped up overnight. After an interesting and unique approach to completing the event, one must congratulate Craig Tiley and his team for completing the event in such extraordinary circumstances.
“We appreciate the assistance of our friends and colleagues in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar for hosting Australian Open 2021 qualifying due to the current travel restrictions into Australia,” Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said.
16 men and 16 women are now heading to Melbourne and will collect a minimum of $100,000.
Bernard Tomic was the only Australian to qualify from the event after having three tough best-of-three set matches. Tomic beat fellow countrymen John-Patrick Smith in the final round. It was a great display of tennis from Tomic, who will now fly back home and look to carry that momentum at Melbourne Park.
The win was not a quiet one as he told AAP the media needs to stop attacking him. “I am in Doha, I risked my life flying here, my health, COVID-19 is around, many sick, with many things that can go wrong. I’m risking my life, and I’m playing and competing. Of course, I want to get there,” he said, when asked if his tennis ambitions were still present.
Australian Open and French Open doubles champion, Timea Babos, qualified for the event as she looks to re- launch her singles career after previously been ranked World No. 25.
World No. 352, Francesca Jones, qualified for her first Grand Slam event. The 20-year-old from England has a rare congenital condition that means she has only three fingers on each hand and seven toes. As a child she was told she would never become a professional athlete. Jones is hoping to “change people’s perspectives.”
ATP Newcomer of the Year, Carlos Alcaraz, booked his place in Australia. Alcaraz will look to continue to rise up the rankings in 2021. Alcaraz is the first player born in 2003 to qualify for a Grand Slam. Sweden’s Elias Ymer also booked his place at Melbourne Park for the first time since 2018, as he knocked out Japan’s Taro Daniel.
35-year-old Sergiy Stakhovsky also qualified and will now board a flight to Melbourne. The Ukrainian worked his way past Aussie Dane Sweeny in three sets.
19-year-old Frenchmen, Clara Burel, also progressed into the main draw. “At the beginning (when we resumed) I wasn't playing that well during the matches, but my practices were really good, and I just kept playing better and better. I'm really excited. I'm just really happy to be able to go to Australia this year. It wasn't easy, but I'm really happy.”
Serbian 19-year-old Olga Danilovic qualified for her first Grand Slam. Currently ranked World No. 183, she’s looking to climb back up the rankings.
Mayar Sherif continued her excellent form by qualifying for the tournament – Sherif has won 29 of her past 35 matches.
A full list of qualified players can be found below.
| WOMEN: | MEN: |
| Greet Minnen (BEL) | Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) |
| Chloe Paquet (FRA) | Michael Mmoh (USA) |
| Whitney Osuigwe (USA) | Viktor Troicki (SRB) |
| Timea Babos (HUN) | Roman Safiullin (RUS) |
| Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) | Mario Vilella Martinez (ESP) |
| Mayo Hibi (JPN) | Henri Laaksonen (SUI) |
| Kaja Juvan (SLO) | Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) |
| Sara Errani (ITA) | Elias Ymer (SWE) |
| Valeria Savinykh (RUS) | Maxime Cressy (USA) |
| Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) | Kimmer Coppejans (BEL) |
| Francesca Jones (GBR) | Tomas Machac (CZE) |
| Clara Burel (FRA) | Aslan Karatsev (RUS) |
| Liudmila Samsonova (RUS) | Botic Van de Zandschulp (NED) |
| Rebecca Marino (CAN) | Quentin Halys (FRA) |
| Olga Danilovic (SRB) | Bernard Tomic (AUS) |
| Mayar Sherif (EGY) | Frederico Ferreira Silva (POR) |