Fifteen-year-old National Academy athletes Annerly Poulos and Ashleigh Simes have recorded impressive opening round qualifying wins at the ACT Claycourt International #1.
For both players, the victories mark their first wins at a USD$60,000 ITF Pro Tour event, earning their first WTA point.
Despite facing a player ranked almost 40 spots higher than her in the Australian rankings and nine years her senior, Poulos was commanding in her victory over Alexandra Walters (SA) 6-1 6-2.
Poulos was pleased with the match and glad to be playing on her home clay courts.
“I thought I played really well, I was going for all my shots out there and hoping for the best and it came out well, I’m really happy.
“I’ve been training here for so long, I’m really used to the courts and especially clay it’s one of my favourite surfaces. It’s an advantage I ‘m really used to it and I know how to play on it”.
Poulos will face sixth seed Marianna Zakarlyuk (UKR) in the second round, with the Canberra youngster saying she will focus on her own game.
“I’ll just go out tomorrow playing the same as I did today, if I need to change something up I’ll change it up and figure it out along the way and hopefully I get the win again.
Simes then took to the court posting a 6-2 7-6 (2) win over Queensland’s Isabella Bozicevic.
It was a big moment for the Canberra wildcard who was playing in her first ITF Pro Tour match.
“I was happy with how I played. I wasn’t really sure because it was my first Pro Tour event and I was hoping for the best and that I played well.
“I was confident that I could win but not really sure until I got out there. I thought I played pretty well, I stayed consistent and focused and it ended up working.”
Simes will face a tough task in the second round going up against former World No.472 Abbie Myers (NSW).
“I’m just going to try and go in there and be confident and play my game. I’m not going to worry about the results, and go out there and give it a good go.”
Seventeen-year-old Tallulah Farrow was unable to complete the Canberra trifecta going down to Bojana Marinkov (NSW) in straight sets.
Entry to the Canberra Tennis Centre is free with play to commence at 10am.
Qualifying draws and the order of play can be found here
Live scoring is available here
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