Alison Bai breaks her duck for her dad at 2019 Hobart International

Big-serving Alison Bai has delivered her dad the perfect birthday gift, breaking her WTA main-draw duck to finally realise a lifelong tennis dream.

Alison Bai plays a shot during her singles match against Olivia Rogowska on day 2 of the 2019 Hobart International. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

BIG-serving Alison Bai has delivered her dad the perfect birthday gift, breaking her WTA main-draw duck to finally realise a lifelong tennis dream.

The veteran Australian, who until Saturday had never won a match at a WTA-level listed event before stunning up-and-coming Russian Anastasia Potapova, backed up her watershed victory to defeat fellow Aussie Olivia Rogowska today in the final round of Hobart International qualifying.

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Bai’s 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 win over Rogowska, her second in a row after losing the first four meetings between the pair, came on her dad’s birthday in a bittersweet moment for the 28-year-old.

“Today is actually my dad’s birthday, so I was like: ‘Happy birthday, this can be your birthday present’,” Bai said. “My dad’s sister lives here in Hobart, so the last couple of years if I haven’t been playing a tournament, I have been hanging out with them.

“It is amazing the reason I play tennis is because of her. It is a little bit surreal to be honest… it hasn’t really quite hit me yet, the fact I qualified for a WTA event, especially an international event as well, I am a bit blown away.”

Olivia Rogowska plays a shot during her singles match against Alison Bai. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Bai’s decision to sign up for qualifying in Hobart was last-minute after she was knocked out of a $25,000 event in Adelaide last week.

She flew to Hobart to focus on the doubles — alongside Lizette Cabrera she reached the semis last year — but now knows she has been presented with a remarkable opportunity.

Bai sent down an astonishing 24 aces against Rogowska and, if she can continue to land anywhere near the 70 per cent of first serves she did against her countrywoman, she could cause headaches for first-round opponent Alize Cornet.

“Now I am into the main draw, if I could get one match under my belt that would be awesome and anything after that would be an absolute bonus.”

Unfortunately no additional Australians will feature in the main draw, after Kaylah McPhee fell agonisingly short of continuing her dream on WTA debut.

The 20-year-old pushed world No.95 Anna Blinkova to three tight sets, going down 6-7 (4), 6-3, 3-6 in two hours and 24 minutes.

Their match followed another three-set epic between Magda Linette and Kateryna Kozlova, won by Linette in three hours and 24 minutes.