Li Tu (AUS) def [25] Jozek Kovalik (SVK) 6-2, 6-2
26-year-old Li Tu recorded his first career Grand Slam win with a 6-2, 6-2 defeat of 25th seed Jozef Kovalik.
Tu – who spent over six years away from the professional tour to focus on coaching – continues to reach new milestones in his remarkable comeback journey.
His crafty game was on full display, moving into the net on twenty-seven occasions and winning twenty-three of those points.
Tu will now face Laurent Lokoli as the third match on Court 7 tomorrow.
Marc Polmans (AUS) def [24] Lukas Klein (SVK) 6-3, 6-4
Marc Polmans kicked off his 2023 qualifying campaign with a big win over seeded Slovakian Lukas Klein.
Polmans remained disciplined throughout the match, hitting just fourteen unforced errors to Klein’s thirty-five on his way to a straight sets victory.
The 25-year-old will meet Argentine Marco Trungelliti as the first match on Kia Arena tomorrow morning from 10am.
Tristan Schoolkate (AUS) def Kimmel Coppejans (BEL) 6-7(9) 7-5, 6-4
21-year-old Tristan Schoolkate has moved beyond the opening round of Australian Open qualifying at Melbourne Park for the first time, with a brilliant win over Belgium’s Kimmer Coppejans.
After dropping a tight opening set, Schoolkate rallied to take the match to a decider where he ultimately found a crucial break of serve at 4-4 on his way to victory.
The Aussie wildcard will meet Italian Raul Brancaccio tomorrow – once again taking place as the final match on Kia Arena.
Ellen Perez (AUS) def Petra Hule (AUS) 6-0, 6-2
Ellen Perez reigned supreme in the sole all-Aussie battle in round one of qualifying, taking down 23-year-old wildcard Petra Hule.
Perez scored a comfortable victory over Hule, hitting a remarkable twenty-six winners in just fourteen games.
The 27-year-old will meet Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro tomorrow, as the third scheduled match on Court 8.
Priscilla Hon (AUS) def Katrina Scott (USA) 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-1
24-year-old Priscilla Hon won her first Grand Slam match at Melbourne Park since 2020, overcoming American Katrina Scott in a hard-fought contest on 1573 Arena.
Hon hit thirty-four winners on her way to victory in two-hours-and-twenty-seven minutes.
She will now play Canadian Katherine Sebov, who today caused a major upset over the live world number 56, Linda Noskova – after she reached the WTA 500 in Adelaide last week.
Astra Sharma (AUS) def Katharina Hobgarski (GER) 6-3, 5-7, 6-1
Astra Sharma secured her first Australian Open win in four years, on the back of eight aces – four of which came in the deciding set.
Both players were quite loose throughout the match, but Sharma was able to hold her nerve in the third set to move into the second round.
The 27-year-old Aussie will now face 20th seed Simona Waltert – taking place tomorrow as the fourth match on Court 8.
Eight Aussie qualifying campaigns end:
While six Aussies progressed into the second round on day two, eight locals fell out of 2023 Australian Open qualifying on Tuesday.
After a brilliant 2022 season, Omar Jasika was unable to move past sixth seed Denis Kudla, falling 6-1, 6-1, whilst James Duckworth was overcome in a tight battle with Mikhail Kukushkin 7-5, 6-4.
Alexandra Bozovic forced top seed Alycia Parks into two tiebreakers but came up just short in both, falling 7-6(4), 7-6(2). Meanwhile, also in Kia Arena action, Madison Inglis was downed 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in a tough battle with Kristina Mladenovic.
Wildcard Elysia Bolton fell at the hands of seeded Brit Jodie Burrage 6-2, 6-4, while youngsters Philip Sekulic and Edward Winter were also unable to progress, going down 6-4, 6-2, and 7-5, 6-1 respectively.
Overall, thirteen Aussies progressed through the first round of 2023 Australian Open qualifying and all thirteen will be back in action on Wednesday at Melbourne Park.
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