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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019m feeling really excited to play this event.\u00a0 It\u2019s at home and I know the courts and I\u2019m really excited to see how far I go.\u00a0 The competition is so strong, I know it will be tough, but I\u2019m really excited to challenge myself and see how far I can get.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019ve seen a few of the girls around, I know that it\u2019s good competition, but I feel like I know I can play at that level.\u00a0 I\u2019m excited to get more exposure to playing these really good girls.<\/p>\n
“Doing really well in Hawaii (doubles) was a really big confidence booster. I\u2019m looking forward to playing well and get better and better and stepping up against these better girls,” Farrow added.<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
Wildcard, Ujdur will be making her Pro Tour debut when she takes on world No.1095 Yuki Kristina Chiang (USA).<\/p>\n
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\u2019s serve in the second set, and force it to a tie-breaker.\u00a0 Look dominated the tiebreak, rattling off seven consecutive points to seal victory.<\/p>\n
Canberra\u2019s other local hope Jamieson Nathan was also bundled out after falling to Matthew Christopher Romios.\u00a0 Nathan suffered a wrist injury early in the match and struggled to find form during the match.<\/p>\n
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).\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Final round men\u2019s qualifying action will be played on Sunday, with all opening round women\u2019s qualifying matches to take place.<\/p>\n
Play is set to commence at 10am with free entry to the Canberra Tennis Centre.<\/p>\n