Matosevic out in Happy Valley qualifying, South Aussies progress

MARINKO Matosevic will not feature in the main draw of the City of Onkaparinga ATP Challenger after being bundled out in the final round of qualifying at Happy Valley yesterday.

Australia’s Marinko Matosevic lost in the final round of qualifying at the City of Onkaparinga’s ATP Challenger to Canada’s Peter Polansky. Picture: Stephen Laffer.

MARINKO Matosevic will not feature in the main draw of the City of Onkaparinga ATP Challenger after being bundled out in the final round of qualifying at Happy Valley yesterday.

The Australian, who was ranked in the world’s top 40 three years ago but has since slipped to 296, lost in straight sets to little-known Canadian Peter Polansky, 6-4, 6-4.

Matosevic’s exit robs the $75,000 tournament of one of its bigger drawcards.

But the event looms as an opportunity for South Australians Brad Mousley and Alex Bolt – both of whom received wildcards – to shine.

Bolt won his first-round match 6-3, 6-4 over Colombian number three seed Alejandro Gonzalez – a player more than 120 spots higher in the world rankings.

The Murray Bridge 22-year-old was a semi-finalist at Happy Valley last year.

Mousley defeated Serbia’s Laslo Djere 7-5, 7-5.

The world’s top junior Taylor Fritz progressed to the second round after a 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Victorian wildcard Marc Polmans.

In other results, Austria’s Dennis Novak defeated Argentina’s seventh seed Renzo Olivo, 7-5, 7-6.

Israeli top seed Dudi Sela, a former world No. 29, begins his campaign today against Belarusian Uladzimir Ignatik.