Days after landing the biggest win of her career, Priscilla Hon has been awarded the last of eight women’s singles main-draw wildcards for Australian Open 2022.
It took two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka to halt Hon’s run in Adelaide this week, following Hon's upset of Petra Kvitova – her first victory over a top-20 opponent.
It bodes well for the 23-year-old Queenslander, who will make her fourth main draw appearance at her home Grand Slam, which begins on January 17.
“I feel really thankful. I’ve worked really hard to be a contender for the wildcard and actually receiving it means so much to me," Hon said.
"I wish I didn’t need one and hopefully this will be one of my last ones before I can get in on my own ranking. I’ll keep pushing and working to make that happen.”
Hon joins fellow Australians Storm Sanders, Daria Saville, Maddison Inglis and Sam Stosur – in her 20th and final singles campaign – as wildcard recipients.
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Hon’s best result at Melbourne Park was a second-round showing in 2020 before former champion Angelique Kerber had her number.
It will be a welcome return for the world No.263 who missed last year’s Australian Open due to a hip injury.
“I’m going to try keep the momentum going by not putting too much pressure on myself,” Hon said, referencing her performance at the Adelaide International.
“I’ve built some confidence from this week and nothing changes from now on. Each match I go out there and keep working on what I have been and just enjoy it.
"I love being able to play at home in Australia and I want to enjoy every minute of it.”
Fiona Ferro and Robin Anderson will also take their place in the main draw via wildcards, while Chinese 20-year-old Xiyu Wang will make her Melbourne Park debut.
In women’s singles qualifying, Destanee Aiava, Talia Gibson, Taylah Preston, Alex Bozovic, Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz, Zoe Hives, Kim Birrell and Catherine Aulia were granted Australian Open singles qualifying wildcards.