AUSSIE SIX IN CONTENTION FOR MAIN DRAW WIMBLEDON

Li Tu, James McCabe, Priscilla Hon, Emerson Jones, Talia Gibson and Alex Bolt will all feature on the final day of Wimbledon qualifying, after a hard fought Wednesday in warm conditions at Roehampton.

The Aussie story of the day was 29 year old Li Tu who refused to surrender. He saved a match point in the second set and came from 6-9 down in the super tie break to advance to the final round for the first time 3-6, 7-6(8), 7-6(9) defeating Japan's Sho Shimabukuro, after losing in round two twelve months ago.

The South Australian since his second coming to the sport from scratch in 2020 has compiled a 253-115 win loss record predominantly at ITF / Challenger level (has played only 14 matches at tour level) and is working his backside off to make the gains to see him compete more reguarly on the main tour and the majors.

These qualifying wins mean a lot. It will mean even more if he can clear the final hurdle and defeat the master craftsman from France Adrian Mannarino the former world number 17 on Thursday.

Elsewhere, James McCabe the 21 year old from Sydney with the broad shoulders on debut, also locked in a Round 3 qualiying spot defeating Argentine Roman Burruchaga 6-1, 6-4. He will face another South American in Chile's Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera the fifth seed.

Alex Bolt, the lefty from Murray Bridge who has graced the SW19 main draw courts three times in his career is hoping to make it a fourth trip. The 32 year old overcame American tenth seed Eliot Spizzirri 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-2 to set up a showdown with a young man thirteen years his junior Martin Landaluce in the final round.

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16 year old Emerson Jones has visited the Roehampton qualifying courts before, but this is her first time in the pros. It was another very solid win acocunting for Serbia's Lola Radivojevic 6-4, 6-4 to now play Diane Parry, the seventeenth seed from France

Talia Gibson, for the second consecutive year is into the final round following her 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win over dutchwoman Arianne Hartono. An injury sustained in this round a year ago prevented the 21 year old from competing at her best for a main draw spot. No such injury this time and a date with Argentine tenth seed Solana Sierra.

Rounding out the six Priscilla Hon, too strong for Switzerland's Leonie King 6-1, 6-3. A final round battle with Canadian young star Victoria Mboko, the sixth seed. For the 27 year old this is her seventh qualies campaign and the third time she has reached the final round, hoping the planets can align this time to finally make her Wimbledon main draw debut.

To the casualties, a missed opportunity for our top ranked male Tristan Schoolkate. The 2nd seed crashing out to Lebanon's Benjamin Hassan. 7-6(4), 6-3. Destanee Aiava 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 defeated by Hungary's Panna Udvardy and Arina Rodionova outplayed by France's Elsa Jacquemot 6-2, 6-3.

Thursday qualies at Roehampton is one of the best days, your playing for a main draw spot in the most prestigious tennis tournament. To say you have played at Wimbledon is something you can tell your grandkids forever, for many it will be the first time, for others a chance to return.

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