Local teenagers Tallulah Farrow, Ashleigh Simes and Matina Ujdur will lead the local hopes as women’s qualifying at the Apis Canberra International gets underway on Sunday.
Seventeeen-year-old Farrow will take on Alexandra Osborne in the opening match on centre court at 10am and is looking forward to testing herself against some of the world’s best.
“I’m feeling really excited to play this event. It’s at home and I know the courts and I’m really excited to see how far I go. The competition is so strong, I know it will be tough, but I’m really excited to challenge myself and see how far I can get.
Farrow has played a number of Pro Tour events in 2018 and will be drawing upon this experience as she lines up for the event.
“I’ve seen a few of the girls around, I know that it’s good competition, but I feel like I know I can play at that level. I’m excited to get more exposure to playing these really good girls.
“Doing really well in Hawaii (doubles) was a really big confidence booster. I’m looking forward to playing well and get better and better and stepping up against these better girls,” Farrow added.
Simes, who earned her first WTA point at the ACT Claycourt International earlier this year faces a tough opening match against sixth seed and world No.496, Haruna Arakawa (JPN).
Wildcard, Ujdur will be making her Pro Tour debut when she takes on world No.1095 Yuki Kristina Chiang (USA).
In men’s qualifying action on Saturday, local James Frawley took on Michael Look in a close match at the Apis Canberra International this morning. Look took an early lead, winning the first set 6-4, and going into the second with a decisive serve that had him up by for much of the match. Down 3-5 Canberran Frawley came back to break Look’s serve in the second set, and force it to a tie-breaker. Look dominated the tiebreak, rattling off seven consecutive points to seal victory.
Canberra’s other local hope Jamieson Nathan was also bundled out after falling to Matthew Christopher Romios. Nathan suffered a wrist injury early in the match and struggled to find form during the match.
Queenslander Jayden Court caused the upset of the day in the second round defeating world No.462, and qualifying top seed, Evan Hoyt (GBR) 1-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(3). Harry Bourchier (AUS) knocked out fourth seed Colin Sinclair (NMI) 6-2, 6-4 before taking to the court in the afternoon and defeating Alexander Crnokrak (AUS) 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-1.
Fresh from a quarter final appearance in Traralgon number six seed Brydan Klein (GBR) also impressed; defeating Tomislav Papac (AUS) 6-0, 6-3 before taking out Edward Bourchier (AUS) 6-2, 6-1
Final round men’s qualifying action will be played on Sunday, with all opening round women’s qualifying matches to take place.
Play is set to commence at 10am with free entry to the Canberra Tennis Centre.
Draws and order of play can be found here
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