Australian Open 2022: Follow all the Aussies in action

Australia is going wild for Maddison Inglis after the world No.133 wildcard added to her first grand slam win to guarantee a monster pay cheque.

Calmer, wiser and richer, Maddison Inglis has shocked the tennis world in barging into the final 32 at this year’s Australian Open.

Two days after eliminating US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, the West Australian wildcard rallied from a break down in the final set to beat American qualifier Hailey Baptiste 7-6(7-4) 2-6 6-2.

A disbelieving Inglis put her hands on her head for the second-straight match and buried her wide smile into her towel as she came to terms with her career-altering triumph.

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“It’s very special – playing on this court, in front of this crowd, and now I’m in the third round. I just can’t believe it at the moment,” Inglis said.

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“This is the best match and this is my favourite court (Margaret Court Arena) and the best court I’ve ever played on, and the crowd was just insane today, so thank you guys so much.”

The match swung dramatically against Inglis after she won a wild opening set that included six breaks of serves, with Baptiste winning eight of 10 games at one stage.

Maddison Inglis reacts after her upset first-round win. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

The wildcard defeated 24th-ranked US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

But a day after opening up about the growing up she was forced to do in the past 12 months, Inglis ripped back the momentum with a crucial break of serve in the third game of the deciding set.

A wayward Baptiste forehand also enabled her to stave off a break point to hold for 3-2.

Then came some fortune in the match-turning next game, when Inglis fought back from 40-0 down before her drive volley on break point clipped the net and landed in for a winner.

Baptiste’s resistance began to wane as Inglis rushed to the finish line, including a magnificent cross-court backhand slice setting up Inglis’ second match point, which she converted.

“I got a little bit lucky in the (sixth) game there, so I’m really grateful for that,” Inglis said.

“Hailey played really well in the second set. She served well and I thought I made a few errors at not a great time but I’m so glad that I could get my energy back in the third thanks to you guys.

“I’m over the moon.”

DAY 3 LIVE: FOLLOW ALL THE ACTION AS IT HAPPENS

Inglis won 6-4 6-2 on Tuesday. Picture: MICHAEL ERREY/AFP

O’CONNELL HEROICS BOW OPPONENT AWAY

Another Sydney wildcard is moving into the second round at this year’s Australian Open.

One day after Aleks Vukic stunned 30th seed Lloyd Harris, countryman Chris O’Connell eliminated French left-hander Hugo Gaston 7-6(7-4) 6-0 4-6 6-1 in an impressive display.

It’s the second-straight year that O’Connell’s won a match at his home grand slam, after upsetting top-40 German Jan-Lennard Struff in 2021.

This time the 27-year-old, who followed Vukic, Ash Barty, John Millman and Sam Stosur into round two, overcame the disappointment of losing the third set after being a break up.

Gaston contributed to his own demise, plonking a straightforward volley into the net – after pushing O’Connell out wide – to concede the all-important break in the fourth game of the fourth set.

Christopher O'Connell takes down France’s Hugo Gaston in the first round. Picture: Mark Stewart

There was no repeat of the third set, with O’Connell avoiding trouble as he set up a second-round clash with 13th-seeded Argentine Diego Schwartzman, who beat Serb Filip Krajinovic in straight sets.

His forehand did most of his damage but he also landed north of 70 per cent of his first serves to help keep his 67th-ranked opponent at bay.

O’Connell reached his career-high singles ranking of 111 in September 2020 and is currently at No.175.

The Sydney wildcard celebrates his first-round success. Picture: Mark Stewart

TOUGH RUN FOR DARIA SAVILLE

Following Achilles surgery, former top-20 star Daria Saville made her Grand Slam return on Tuesday - but it didn’t last long. Follow all the Aussies in action on Day 2.

Daria Saville’s comeback tour will need to take off overseas after she exited the Australian Open in straight sets in the first round on Tuesday.

The former top-20 star, now ranked No.426, is mere matches into her return from Achilles surgery after last year’s Open and found Swede Rebecca Peterson too great of a hurdle to overcome.

Saville (nee Gavrilova) was her typical energetic self from the outset and her effort was never lacking, but her frustration began to show towards the end of her 6-2 6-3 defeat to the world No.82.

Australia's Daria Saville lost in straight sets in the first round. Picture: Brandon MALONE/AFP

Saville was beaten 6-2 6-3 by Sweeden’s Rebecca Peterson. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

She was always playing catch up after dropping the opening four games of the match.

Things might have been different if she converted one of her two break points on Peterson’s serve in the first game of the second set.

The Swede hung on then broke for a 3-1 lead and cruised to the finish line after hitting 20 winners to Saville’s 17.

She extended her unblemished record against Australians to eight matches.

Saville’s summer ends without a main draw win from three tries but she did qualify in Adelaide and will be better for the match practice after playing just once last year after the Australian Open.

But Saville will be better for the match practice after playing just once last year after the Australian Open. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Scans after competing at Melbourne Park last year revealed a Haglund’s bump, which forms on the back of the heel bone, had swollen considerably and was rubbing on and causing severe pain in her right Achilles tendon.

Saville was also still dealing with Enthesopathy, which, in simple terms, is damage to the connective tissues between the bone and tendons.

Surgery was necessary after several years of Achilles pain and setbacks.

After months of rehabilitation, Saville made a winning return in November at the Billie Jean King Cup.

She also married fellow player Luke Saville in December.

HON CANNOT REPEAT RECENT HEROICS

Queenslander Priscilla Hon was unable to repeat her Adelaide heroics, going down 6-2 6-3 to Czech 31st seed Marketa Vondrousova.

Hon upset Vondrousova’s countrywoman and dual Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova two weeks ago in Adelaide, in a performance that earned her a wildcard.

Originally published as Australian Open 2022: Follow all the Aussies in action