Alex Bolt (AUS) def Renzo Olivo (ARG) 6-1, 6-2
Alex Bolt kicked off his 2023 qualifying campaign with a strong showing over Argentine Renzo Olivo, winning 82% of points behind his first serve and remaining unbroken for the match.
Bolt’s left-hand serve and forehand combination helped him to progress in exactly an hour, as he eyes off a seventh consecutive Australian Open main draw later this week.
“I love the conditions out here in Australia and I’ve played well on these courts before,” Bolt told Tennis Australia.
“I’m confident that I know how to play well in these big stadiums and at these big events.”
Adam Walton (AUS) def [14] Pablo Andujar (ESP) 6-1, 6-2
Tennessee graduate Adam Walton took full advantage of a qualifying wildcard with a trouncing of fourteenth seed Pablo Andujar, hitting just twelve unforced errors to his opponent’s twenty-nine.
23-year-old Walton is contesting his first Australian Open after spending recent years in the American college system and is stoked to be competing in his home Grand Slam.
“I was glad to get out here. I’ve been looking forward to today more than anything since I got the word of the wildcard. I’ll savour every day here,” Walton told Tennis Australia.
Dane Sweeny (AUS) def [27] Vit Kopriva (CZE) 6-1, 6-1
Dane Sweeny was one of many Aussie men with a dominant straight sets win to kick off his qualifying campaign.
Sweeny managed to put constant pressure on his opponentKopriva’s serve, breaking five times on his way to victory.
“I played a solid match, I didn’t try to do too much, I just wanted to do the basics right”, Sweeny told Tennis Australia.
Destanee Aiava (AUS) def Ipek Oz (TUR) 6-3, 6-3
Destanee Aiava recorded her first Grand Slam qualifying win in three years after a brilliant performance against Turkey’s Ipek Oz, on Court 3.
The 22-year-old’s explosive game was on full display, firing twenty winners to Oz’s three on her way to a straight sets victory.
“I’m so happy. It’s my first Grand Slam match for a while and I’m just happy to get the win”, Aiava told Tennis Australia.
[21] Aleks Vukic (AUS) def Gabriel Diallo (CAN)
After being very unlucky to miss out on a main draw wildcard, Aleks Vukic has commenced his Australian Open qualifying with a strong victory over Canadian Gabriel Diallo.
Vukic was tested by Diallo early on but held his nerve during the opening set, before powering on to a straight sets win.
“[The court] was slower than I expected and took a little fighting through”, Vukic said post-match.
The 26-year-old, who won his first Grand Slam main draw match this time last year, is eager to put himself in a position to match that feat in 2023.
“I’m trying to do it again. Firstly, I’m focussing on Wednesday, and we’ll see what happens.”
Zoe Hives (AUS) def Harmony Tan (FRA) 6-2, 5-7, 6-1
26-year-old Zoe Hives opened her qualifying campaign with a hard-fought win over France’s Harmony Tan, who reached the Wimbledon fourth round last year.
Hives had chances to take the match in straight sets before being sent to a decider, where she hit 81% of first serves to move into the second round.
Max Purcell (AUS) def [2] Marco Cecchinato (ITA) 6-2, 3-2 (ret.)
Max Purcell was dominant from the outset en route to a big win over the second seed in the men’s qualifying draw.
The 24-year-old Wimbledon doubles champion hit five aces in the opener to take it 6-2, before his Italian opponent Cecchinato retired early in the second set.
Purcell will now face former top 30 player Damir Dzumhur in the second round.
Arina Rodionova was unable to overcome American and former top ten player Coco Vandeweghe, falling 6-4, 7-6(8) on Kia Arena.
Aussies Seone Mendez and Kaylah McPhee were also downed in first round action – with Mendez managing to force a decider against thirteenth seed Elena-Gabriela Ruse before falling 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, whilst McPhee lost 6-4, 6-0 to fourth seed Christina Bucsa.
19-year-old James McCabe fell just short for the second straight year in Australian Open qualifying, going down 7-6(2), 6-7(4), 6-3 to Alexandre Muller, whilst Lizette Cabrera was defeated 6-2, 6-3 by Elina Avanesyan.
18-year-olds Jeremy Jin and Derek Pham made their Grand Slam qualifying debuts but were unable to reach the second round, falling 7-6(3), 6-1 and 6-2, 6-2 respectively.
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