USA, 27 September 2021 | Leigh Rogers

Chicago, USA

Maddison Inglis and Lizette Cabrera have qualified for a WTA 500 tournament in Chicago, joining Ajla Tomljanovic in the main draw.

Inglis secured her spot by winning a three-hour battle with American Asia Muhammad, eventually prevailing 6-7(2) 6-4 7-6(3).

This is the second time the 23-year-old from Western Australia has qualified at a WTA 500 tournament, having also qualified at the Adelaide International in February.

World No.131 Inglis faces American wildcard Caroline Dolehide, a 23-year-old ranked No.181, in the opening round.

Cabrera has won back-to-back matches for only the second time this season, qualifying with a 6-4 6-0 victory against fourth-seeded Belarusian Olga Govortsova.

It is the seventh time world No.162 Cabrera has qualified for a WTA tournament in her career – and first at the 500 level.

> LIZETTE CABRERA: Serving inspiration

The 23-year-old from Queensland’s first-round opponent is American Shelby Rogers, who eliminated Ash Barty at the US Open earlier this month.

Priscilla Hon’s bid to also advance to the main draw has fallen just short, losing a three-set clash with Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova in the final qualifying round.

Aussies in action – Chicago

RESULTS
Women’s qualifying singles, final round
[3] Maddison Inglis (AUS) d [12] Asia Muhammad (USA) 6-7(2) 6-4 7-6(3)
[11] Lizette Cabrera (AUS) d [4] Olga Govortsova (BLR) 6-4 6-0
[6] Kateryna Kozlova (UKR) d [16] Priscilla Hon (AUS) 6-2 6-7(4) 6-3

COMING UP
Women’s singles, first round
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) v Marketa Vondrousova (CZE)
[Q] Maddison Inglis (AUS) v [WC] Caroline Dolehide (USA)
[Q
] Lizette Cabrera (AUS) v Shelby Rogers (USA)

Women’s doubles, first round
Anastasia Rodionova (AUS)/Ingrid Neel (USA) v Makoto Ninomiya (JPN)/Sabrina Santamaria (USA)

Nur-Sultan,  Kazakhstan

Arina Rodionova is the sole Australian representative at a WTA 250 tournament in Nur-Sultan this week.

The 31-year-old plays Germany’s Anna-Lena Friedsam in the opening round.

Aussies in action – Nur-Sultan

COMING UP
Women’s singles, first round
Arina Rodionova (AUS) v Anna-Lena Friedsam (GER)

San Diego, USA

Alex Bolt has qualified at an ATP 250 tournament in San Diego, securing his spot with a three-set win against two-time Grand Slam finalist Kevin Anderson.

World No.144 Bolt scored a 6-7(5) 6-3 7-5 victory against the world No.69-ranked South African, not losing serve in their two-hour and 14-minute final qualifying round clash.

It is Bolt’s 15th career top-100 win – and fifth this year, the most the 28-year-old has recorded in a single season.

Recent US Open semifinalists John Peers and Slovak Filip Polasek are the No.3 seeds in the men’s doubles draw.

Aussies in action – San Diego

RESULTS
Men’s qualifying singles, final round
[7] Alex Bolt (AUS)
d [2] Kevin Anderson (RSA) 6-7(5) 6-3 7-5

COMING UP
Men’s singles, first round
[Q] Alex Bolt (AUS)
v [5] Hubert Hurkacz (POL)

Men’s doubles, first round
[3] John Peers (AUS)/Filip Polasek (SVK) v Hubert Hurkacz (POL)/Marcelo Melo (BRA)
Jordan Thompson (AUS)/Jackson Withrow (USA) v [WC] Antonio Sancic (CRO)/Artem Sitak (NZL)

Sofia, Bulgaria

Alex de Minaur leads the Australian charge at an ATP 250 tournament in Sofia this week.

The 22-year-old is seeded No.3 in the singles draw and receives an opening-round bye.

John Millman is the eighth seed and faces Swede Mikael Ymer in the first round, while Nur-Sultan finalist James Duckworth will look to continue his impressive form against Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori.

READ: Duckworth finishes runner-up in Nur-Sultan

Australian duo Luke Saville and John-Patrick Smith are the No.4 seeds in the doubles competition.

Aussies in action – Sofia

COMING UP
Men’s singles, first round
[3] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v Bye
[8] John Millman (AUS) v Mikael Ymer (SWE)
James Duckworth (AUS) v Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN)

Men’s doubles, first round
[4] Luke Saville (AUS)/John-Patrick Smith (AUS) v Andre Goransson (SWE)/Hugo Nys (MON)