Photograph: Getty Images
Maddison Inglis’ dream run at the Australian Open continues after she knocked off American Hailey Baptiste in the second round.
The Aussie looked at home on Margaret Court Arena as she worked her way to a 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-2 victory in two hours and seven minutes.
The crowd erupted as a Baptiste volley crashed into the net on match point and Inglis dropped to her knees in an outpour of emotion; looking up to her box in disbelief.
“It feels a little bit surreal at the moment to be in the third round of a slam,” Inglis said in her press conference.
“To play out there on Margaret Court is something that you dream about. I'm feeling really grateful and lucky at the moment.”
Inglis was made to work much harder by Baptiste than she was in her opening round match against Leylah Fernandez. The match was eerily tight, with Inglis (90) winning just two more points than Baptiste (88) for the duration of the contest.
Despite tiring as the match wore on, Inglis was able to stay focused on what she had to do to get back into the contest.
“I felt like I dropped a little bit in the second, and Hailey picked up and started serving really well,” Inglis said.
“Yeah, I just felt like I dropped my pace a little bit and she was able to dictate the points a lot compared to in the first where I felt like I was the one being aggressive.
“In the third I tried to make that a big focus. Getting more first serves in, getting the depth back in my shot, the pace.
“I think we were both feeling it a little bit physically in the third. The crowd really got me going.”
Things didn’t look good for the Aussie when she dropped her serve in the opening game of the final set. Things went from bad to worse when she missed out on a good opportunity to break back in the very next game, however, the Aussie wasn’t done with just yet.
Inglis rallied to reel off the final six games of the set to win the match in front of an adoring home crowd at Margaret Court Arena.
“I think going down an early break was disappointing because I knew Hailey was serving very well,” Inglis said.
“I think it was a crucial game there in the third game. I think I faced a couple breakpoints. Getting that game, then breaking her in the next, I just felt like I was feeling it.
“I think as the scoreboard got more even, I started playing my game a bit more. I was a bit more aggressive, served a lot better in the end there. I think just played well at the end.”
The Aussie now finds herself in the third round where she will come up against Kaia Kanepi or Marie Bouzkova.