Few events highlight the game’s fascinating blend of youth and experience better than a Grand Slam qualifying draw.
For some young players in the 128-player field, it’s an opportunity to announce themselves as a future force on the world tennis stage. Other more experienced competitors often take to the court with a view to make one last push in their storied careers.
Australian teenager Taylah Preston falls firmly in the former category at Australian Open 2025.
At age 19, the West Australian is making early steps on the professional tour – not that she appeared to be lacking in match smarts as she dismantled Mona Barthel, a former top-25 player, in just 48 minutes in the first round.
“She is a great player, and she has had great success in her career being [a former] top 30 [player],” said Preston of the 34-year-old German, who reached the fourth round of the Australian Open main draw in 2017.
“She’s got a lot of experience and I’m still trying to get more experience.”
As she prepares to meet third-seeded Brit Harriet Dart – a straight-sets winner over Australia’s Lizette Cabrera on Monday – in the second round of qualifying, Preston will target a return of the aggression that proved so successful against Barthel.
Applying pressure as she attacked Barthel’s second serve, the teenager capitalised on all four of her break points against the German and saved one of her own.
“I am always trying to be aggressive where I can, I think that’s just part of the game plan going into every match,” explained Preston, who is especially passionate about contesting her home Grand Slam.
“It would mean literally everything really, I really want to qualify here,” she enthused. “It would mean to make the main draw of Australian Open 2025. It’s a massive goal of mine, but I am going to take it one point at a time.”
For Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, a successful start to AO 2025 qualifying is the first step towards an 11th main-draw campaign at Melbourne Park.
The 30-year-old Slovakian made a successful start in Melbourne as she overcame Australia’s Tina Smith 6-2 6-2 in one hour and 36 minutes.
“I'm extremely happy to win the match here. t's always difficult to win any match on this level and especially on the Grand Slam,” said Schmiedlova, noting the challenges of the rain-delayed start to the first day of play. “I’m happy that I stayed focused until the end.”
A former world No.26, Schmiedlova enters AO qualifying ranked No.114 – but with a proven ability to make her mark at high-profile events. At the Paris Olympics last July, she stunned higher-ranked Beatriz Haddad Maia, newly crowned Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, and No.4 seed Jasmine Paolini to reach the quarterfinals.
RESULTS: Australian Open 2025 qualifying Day 1
“It changed a lot. It was a big result,” she said of the subsequent confidence boost. “Many people in my country started recognising me. I didn't win the medal, so it wasn't easy as well. Very emotional. But still probably the best result of my career.”
And with every tournament comes a greater sense of gratitude for the experienced campaigner, who can appreciate the value of taking a place in the Australian Open main draw next week.
It's always a dream to qualify, to play a main draw. You appreciate it even more when you qualify than when you get in by ranking,” she said. “So it's a goal and I would be very happy [to achieve it].