On a day where many Aussie qualifying campaigns came to an end at Melbourne Park, three locals were able to keep their main draw dreams alive.
Max Purcell (AUS) def Damir Dzumhur (BIH) 6-4, 7-5
24-year-old Max Purcell was the first Aussie into round three of qualifying, after a brilliant victory over experienced Bosnian Damir Dzumhur.
Purcell was dominant on serve, firing down fifteen aces and no double faults, before a thirty-seven-shot match point helped secure him a straight sets victory.
The 2022 Wimbledon doubles champion appears to be focusing heavily on his singles this season and is reaping the rewards thus far – needing just one more win to reach his second career Australian Open main draw.
Purcell will face Italian 22nd seed Matteo Arnaldi tomorrow – a contest which will undoubtedly be filled with lengthy exchanges.
[21] Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) def Thiago Agustin Tirante (ARG) 7-6(4), 6-3
26-year-old Aleks Vukic has booked his place in the final found of 2023 Australian Open qualifying after a second consecutive straights sets victory.
Vukic, who entered qualifying as the highest ranked Australian, was unfortunate to miss out on a wildcard for next week but is now just one win from earning his place in the main draw.
The Aussie won thirty of thirty-five points behind his first serve and matched Purcell with zero double faults, as he progressed to the final round of Grand Slam qualifying for the fourth time.
Vukic will square off against ninth seeded American Michael Mmoh tomorrow, in what will assuredly be a hard-fought battle for both men.
Tristan Schoolkate (AUS) def Raul Brancaccio (ITA) 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-5
21-year-old Tristan Schoolkate progressed to the final round of qualifying, with a stunning come-from-behind win on Kia Arena.
Schoolkate hit twenty-two aces to Brancaccio’s one, en route to one of the biggest victories of his young career.
Just as the contest looked headed for a super tiebreak in the deciding set, the Aussie found a crucial break at 5-5 and held his nerve to reach the third round.
Schoolkate will meet the winner of Jan-Lenard Struff and Emilio Gomez on Thursday as he looks to reach the Australian Open main draw for the first time.
Ten Aussies exit 2023 AO qualifying:
Alex Bolt, Marc Polmans, and Destanee Aiava all played first up on day three, each taking the opening set in their respective matches.
However, it was ultimately not to be for the trio – all falling in tight deciding sets.
Bolt was downed by Matteo Arnaldi, who proved too consistent for the Aussie to take the match 5-7, 7-5, 6-4, whilst Polmans was overcome 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 by Argentine Marco Trungelliti.
Aiava was the closest of Aussie to lose in second round action, dropping a super tiebreak and falling 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) to Arianne Hartono.
A further three Aussie men in Li Tu, Dane Sweeny, and Adam Walton were each able to win a set before ultimately losing their respective matches.
Tu fell 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-2 to Frenchman Laurent Lokoli while Sweeny was downed 7-5, 1-6, 6-1 by Italian Luciano Darderi.
After a brilliant start on Kia Arena, Walton was eventually defeated 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 by German Peter Gojowczyk.
Aussies Astra Sharma, Zoe Hives, Ellen Perez, and Priscilla Hon were unable to take control of their matches, each falling in straight sets.
Sharma was overcome 6-2, 6-4 to Simona Waltert while Hives went down 6-1, 6-1 to Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva.
Perez fell 6-3, 6-2 to Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and Hon was defeated 6-2, 6-2 by Canadian Katherine Sebov.
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