- Brenda Fruhvirtova and Polina Kudermetova qualified for Australian Open.
- Sara Bejlek of the Czech Republic defeated Erika Andreeva.
- Bejlek and Selekhmeteva qualify for their second major main draw.
Due to their success in qualifying, youngsters Brenda Fruhvirtova and Polina Kudermetova, who are sisters, will be making their Grand Slam main draw debuts at the Australian Open.
The No. 135-ranked Fruhvirtova defeated Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 in 2 hours and 53 minutes, completing her second comeback from a set down in as many days.
Kudermetova, who is ranked 182, had a simpler time, defeating Asia Muhammad 6-4, 6-2, in just 76 minutes. Kudermetova and Fruhvirtova were competing in their first Grand Slam qualification matches.
Since Marta Kostyuk in 2018, Fruhvirtova, the Top 250’s youngest player, qualified for the Australian Open as the fifth-youngest player ever. The Czech is Linda’s younger sister, who is ranked No. 80 and is the Top 100’s youngest player at 17 years old. Veronika, who is ranked No. 9, is Kudermetova’s older sister.
There are now five players that are eligible who are under the age of 18. Diana Shnaider, the eighth seed, defeated Anastasia Tikhonova in just 55 minutes to cap off an impressive week. In three qualifying rounds, Shnaider, who was ranked No. 877 at this time last year and is currently No. 105 in the world, has lost just 16 games.
In an all-teen final round, Sara Bejlek of the Czech Republic defeated Erika Andreeva, 18, 6-2, 6-3, building on her earlier upset of No. 1 seed Alycia Parks.
The 19-year-old Selekhmeteva defeated Sophie Chang in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, to advance as well. Bejlek and Selekhmeteva, who made their professional debuts at the US Open and Roland Garros, respectively, last year, have both qualified for their second major main event.
Additionally, three previous Top 30 athletes participated in the Australian Open main event. The 2017 semifinalist CoCo Vandeweghe required three sets to defeat the tenacious Yuriko Miyazaki, but she prevailed 6-3, 6-7(3), 7-6[1] after the Briton faltered in the match tiebreak.
After defeating Elizabeth Mandlik 6-4, 6-4, No. 3 seed Anna Karolina Schmiedlova finished qualifying without dropping a set, and Lesia Tsurenko, a past US Open quarterfinalist, defeated Leolie Jeanjean 6-4, 6-2. Kristina Mladenovic, the former World No. 10, was unable to join them, losing to Katie Volynets 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
Arianne Hartono, a former NCAA champion, defeated No. 14 seed Laura Pigossi 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 in 2 hours and 22 minutes to advance to the Australian Open for the second time in a row.
The No. 17 seed Clara Burel defeated Olga Danilovic in a matchup of 2001-born former junior standouts 3-6, 6-0, 6-2, and Italy’s Lucrezia Stefanini advanced to her maiden major main draw after Sachia Vickery withdrew with an ankle injury behind.
The 16 qualifiers were rounded out by Eva Lys, Katherine Sebov, Cristina Bucsa and Selena Janicijevic. Their placements in the main draw are below.
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