Tennis: Australia’s Maddison Inglis, Astra Sharma, Priscilla Hon, Jaimee Fourlis and Zoe Hives trying to match Wimbledon feat

Australia’s excellent Wimbledon qualifying campaign continues, with eight of the country’s tennis players one win from making the main draw.

Five Australian women are on the verge of matching a Wimbledon feat that last happened 39 years ago, 12 months after Ash Barty won the title.

Jaimee Fourlis, Zoe Hives, Priscilla Hon, Maddison Inglis and Astra Sharma will all try to seal Wimbledon main draw berths at nearby Roehampton on Thursday night in final-round qualifying.

Three Australian men – Jason Kubler, Rinky Hijikata and Max Purcell – are also one victory away from competing at the prestigious All England Club next week.

Five Australian women have never qualified for Wimbledon in the Open Era, which started in 1968, when grand slam tournaments allowed professional players to compete against amateurs.

Elizabeth Minter, Nerida Gregory, Bernadette Randall and Debbie Freeman qualified in 1983, with Brenda Remilton-Ward also a lucky loser that year.

Jason Kubler is one of three Australian men still alive in Wimbledon qualifying. Picture: Getty Images

A maximum four Australians will advance to the Wimbledon women’s singles draw – joining Ajla Tomljanovic and wildcard Daria Saville – and at least one will, given Hives, 25, and Hon, 24, will compete for one spot.

Hon knocked out the top seed in qualifying, American Katie Volynets, in a 6-2 6-4 result, then spoke afterwards of her wish for more Australian women to be direct entrants rather than having to do it the hard way.

“We have a lot of girls in qualifying and hopefully we can change it around and turn it into the men’s, where most of our players are in the main draw and not in qualifying,” 192nd-ranked Hon said.

“Hopefully, in the next year or two, we will start to see this.

“Obviously, Ash led the way. It was very emotional actually seeing her win Wimbledon. I don’t really get emotional but there were definitely a lot of feels.”

Former world No.1 Ash Barty won last year’s Wimbledon women’s singles title. Picture: Getty Images

Hives is back playing after a blood circulation disorder called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) put her career on hold for two years and left her unable to walk to her letterbox at its worst.

She thrashed American Sachia Vickey 6-0 6-3 to give herself a chance at playing in a second grand slam main draw and first outside Australia.

Fifth-seeded Inglis and No.10 seed Sharma both needed three sets to progress, while Fourlis – after saving two match points in the previous round – downed 2020 French Open semi-finalist Nadia Podoroska 6-4 7-6(7-5).

Inglis, who reached the third round at this year’s Australian Open, ended retirement-bound Mandy Minella’s career with a 7-6(7-3) 3-6 6-2 triumph.

Sharma also dropped the second set before ousting Spain’s Irene Burillo Escorihuela 6-3 4-6 6-3 in five minutes short of two hours.

Rinky Hijikata is bidding to play in his first grand slam main draw match. Picture: Getty Images

Kubler, Hijikata and Purcell are trying to be the first Australian male trio to qualify for Wimbledon in the same year since John-Patrick Smith, Alex Bolt and Kubler in 2018.

Hijikata was the first through when he blitzed France’s Alexandre Muller 6-2 6-2, before Purcell edged past Portuguese veteran Gastao Elias 6-4 7-6(4).

Kubler went the distance for the second-straight match, outlasting Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-3 3-6 7-5 on his third match point.

But there was disappointment for Storm Sanders and Lizette Cabrera, who lost their respective second-round qualifying matches.

AUSTRALIA’S FINAL-ROUND QUALIFYING MATCHES

Women: Jaimee Fourlis v Jessika Ponchet (France)

5-Maddison Inglis v Natalija Stevanovic (Serbia)

Priscilla Hon v Zoe Hives

10-Astra Sharma v Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva (Andorra)

Men: Rinky Hijikata v Nicola Kuhn (Germany)

2-Jason Kubler v 24-Elias Ymer (Sweden)

30-Max Purcell v 13-Nuno Borges (Portugal)

Seven Aussie women progress in Wimbledon qualifying

Maddison Inglis overcame the disappointment of barely missing out on direct entry to Wimbledon to be one of seven Australian women to move into second-round qualifying.

The 24-year-old West Australian, who made the third round at this year’s Australian Open in a career-best performance, joined Astra Sharma, Priscilla Hon, Storm Sanders, Lizette Cabrera, Jaimee Fourlis and Zoe Hives in winning.

But 27th seed Olivia Gadecki, Kaylah McPhee, Seone Mendez and Ellen Perez lost their first-round qualifying matches.

Inglis, the fifth seed in qualifying, outlasted Dutchwoman Indy de Vroome in a tense opening set before completing a 7-6(10-8) 6-1 victory.

The world No.129 has won only five of her 17 matches, including qualifying, since her Melbourne Park heroics, but will meet Luxembourg’s Mandy Minella for a spot in final-round qualifying.

Maddison Inglis returned to form with a straight-sets victory in Wimbledon qualifying. Picture: Michael Klein

Hives’ 6-2 6-4 dismissal of Romanian 20th seed Gabriela Lee was a significant step in her comeback after a blood circulation disorder called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) ruined her past two years.

Another challenge awaits against American former world No.73 Sachia Vickery, with the winner facing off with either Hon or top seed Katie Volynets for a main draw spot.

Hon warmed up for her difficult contest with a fighting 2-6 6-4 7-5 triumph over Valentini Grammatikopoulou, after the Greek player served for the match in the final set.

In-form Fourlis also had to rally from a set down to advance 5-7 7-6(7-4) 6-4 at Dea Herdzelas’ expense and next faces 2020 French Open semi-finalist Nadia Podoroska.

Tenth-seeded Astra Sharma saw off Swiss rival Joanne Zuger 7-6(8-6) 6-4, while Sanders won by almost an identical scoreline, 7-6(7-2) 6-4, over local hope Anna Brogan.

Lizette Cabrera was one of seven Australian women to progress in Wimbledon qualifying. Picture: Getty Images

Cabrera rounded out the Australian victors with a 7-5 6-3 defeat of Frenchwoman Elsa Jacquemot to book a clash with No.9 seed Mai Hontama, of Japan.

Sharma’s next opponent is Spain’s Irene Burillo Escorihuela, with Sanders up against third-seeded Swede Mirjam Bjorklund.

Australia’s remaining men, second seed Jason Kubler, No.30 seed Max Purcell and Rinky Hijikata, will return to the Roehampton courts on Wednesday night trying to make final-round qualifying.

Kubler takes on Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante; Purcell meets Portugal’s Gastao Elias; and Hijikata locks horns with Frenchman Alexandre Muller.

Aussies off to good start in Wimbledon qualifying

Australia’s hopes of a double-digit presence in Wimbledon’s men’s singles draw are alive, with three out of four players winning their first-round qualifying matches.

Second seed Jason Kubler, No.30 seed Max Purcell and 21-year-old Rinky Hijikata are two victories away from joining their seven countrymen at the All England Club next week.

But Andrew Harris bowed out 6-4 7-5 to France’s Antoine Hoang.

Fellow Australians Alex de Minaur, Nick Kyrgios, Jordan Thompson, James Duckworth, Thanasi Kokkinakis, John Millman and Alexei Popyrin are already in the draw.

Kubler is experiencing a career renaissance, including qualifying for his maiden French Open this year and making it to round two.

The world No.98, who also won a Challenger title at Little Rock, Arkansas, and made another final at Orlando, battled back from dropping the first set to defeat Turkey’s Cem Ilkel 3-6 7-5 6-2 at Roehampton.

Jason Kubler hopes to qualify for the Wimbledon main draw, as he did at the French Open. Picture: Getty Images

His rush of strong lead-in form came narrowly too late for him to avoid qualifying, but he is setting himself up well for the second half of the season.

Kubler hit 10 aces past Ilkel and didn’t face a break point in the deciding set as he booked a clash with Argentine Thiago Agustin Tirante.

He successfully qualified for Wimbledon four years ago and made it to the final round of qualifying a year later.

Purcell and Hijikata had smoother paths against Gijs Brouwer and Geoffrey Blancaneaux, respectively, as they chase a Wimbledon main draw debut.

Purcell, a noted grass-court performer who made it to the Eastbourne semi-finals at this time last year, three of four break points in downing Brouwer 7-5 7-6(9-7).

Rinky Hijikata is one of Australia’s most promising young players. Picture: AAP Image

The world No.156’s second-round qualifying opponent is Portuguese veteran Gastao Elias.

Hijikata next meets Frenchman Alexandre Muller after beating his compatriot Blancaneaux 7-5 6-3 in an impressive display.

Australia’s women will start their Wimbledon campaigns on Tuesday night after the qualifying draw was locked in as they try to join Ajla Tomljanovic and wildcard recipient Daria Saville.

Priscilla Hon, Zoe Hives, Storm Sanders, fifth seed Maddison Inglis, Seone Mendez, Lizette Cabrera, No.27 seed Olivia Gadecki, 10th seed Astra Sharma, Kaylah McPhee, Ellen Perez and Jaimee Fourlis are the contenders.

AUSTRALIA’S WIMBLEDON QUALIFYING MATCHES

Women: Priscilla Hon v Valentini Grammatikopoulou (Greece)

Zoe Hives v 20-Gabriela Lee (Romania)

Storm Sanders v WC-Anna Brogan (Great Britain)

5-Maddison Inglis v Indy De Vroome (Netherlands)

Seone Mendez v Natalija Stevanovic (Serbia)

Lizette Cabrera v Elsa Jacquemot (France)

27-Olivia Gadecki v Sarah Beth Grey (Great Britain)

10-Astra Sharma v Joanne Zuger (Switzerland)

Kaylah McPhee v Conny Perrin (Switzerland)

Ellen Perez v Robin Anderson (USA)

Jaimee Fourlis v Dea Herdzelas (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Aussie assault on Wimbledon qualifying

In-form Australian Jason Kubler will attempt to qualify for consecutive grand slams when he starts his Wimbledon campaign on Monday night.

Countrymen Max Purcell, Andrew Harris and Rinky Hijikata join Kubler in the qualifying draw at Roehampton, London.

They are trying to join Alex de Minaur, Nick Kyrgios, Jordan Thompson, James Duckworth, Thanasi Kokkinakis, John Millman and Alexei Popyrin in the Wimbledon main draw.

Kubler broke back into the top 100 last week but not in time to earn direct entry into the All England Championships, leaving him as the No.2 seed in qualifying.

He begins against Turkey’s Cem Ilkel and is projected to meet 24th-seeded Swede Elias Ymer in final-round qualifying, after advancing to round two at this year’s French Open.

Max Purcell will try to qualify for Wimbledon for the first time. Picture: Getty Images

Purcell, the 30th seed, thrives on grass-courts but will contest Wimbledon qualifying for just the second time after falling short in 2018.

He is making a significant sacrifice to compete, given Wimbledon won’t offer any ranking points this year.

Purcell made the semi-finals at Eastbourne last year in a career-best run but will forgo the chance to defend those points to enter Wimbledon qualifying, where Dutchman Gijs Brouwer is his first hurdle.

Harris faces France’s Antoine Hoang in his opener, while Hijikata takes on fellow Frenchman Geoffrey Blancaneaux.

Chris O’Connell opted to skip Wimbledon qualifying to focus on his top-100 bid.

There will be a larger Australian contingent in women’s qualifying, with the draw yet to be conducted.

Maddison Inglis hopes to make the Wimbledon main draw. Picture: Mark Stewart

Maddison Inglis could sneak into the main draw but is currently on the qualifying list, alongside Astra Sharma, Olivia Gadecki, Lizette Cabrera, Arina Rodionova, Storm Sanders, Ellen Perez, Jaimee Fourlis and Priscilla Hon.

Zoe Hives and Kaylah McPhee are also using special rankings to play after respective illness and injury battles.

Sanders warmed up for Wimbledon by partnering Katerina Siniakova to the WTA 500 Berlin doubles title.

Ajla Tomljanovic, who made the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year, and wildcard recipient Daria Saville are already in the main draw for the grass-court grand slam.

Elsewhere, Millman and Duckworth qualified for Eastbourne to join de Minaur in the main draw, while Thompson did the same at the Mallorca event that Kyrgios is also playing in.