John Millman’s hope of contesting the Australian Open 2024 main draw remains alive, with the soon-to-retire Queenslander one of four Australian men to advance to the second round of qualifying.
Contesting his final tournament, the 34-year-old today claimed a 6-3 6-4 win over Italian Alessandro Giannessi.
There was also plenty of success for Australia’s women, with nine reaching the second round of qualifying – the most to reach this stage in 36 years.
Playing in difficult conditions at Melbourne Park, a near-packed crowd on Court 3 helped get Millman over the line.
“You never can prepare for your last (Grand Slam) but the body’s feeling not too bad and really happy to get the win today,” Millman said.
“The crowd was awesome for a qualifying match. It was nearly full and I’m so grateful for the support I have here year in, year out.”
The Aussie’s grit and perseverance was on full display as Millman constantly pressured the world No.225 into playing extra shots.
“Free points don’t come too easy, especially as you get a bit older too,” smiled Millman, who next faces 116th-ranked Alex Molcan.
“The one thing I have always been able to control is my effort and I knew that would be there in spades.
“I’ve always been satisfied with my performance at the end of the match, I can say I gave it 110 per cent. There are not too many times that I’ve walked off the court where I felt like I left a bit out there.
“It doesn’t get any easier, but we live to fight another day and we’ll see how we go tomorrow.”
Millman’s countryman advance
Omar Jasika joined Millman in the second round of qualifying after winning his first Australian Open singles match in eight years.
Jasika’s 6-3 1-6 6-2 win over world No.165 Dalibor Svrcina marked his first win at Melbourne Park since victory over Ilya Marchenko in the first round of AO 2016.
“It’s honestly an unbelievable feeling to be back at home, playing in my backyard,” the 26-year-old wildcard said.
“Super stoked with that win. Dalibor is a great player. I’ve watched him play over the last few years and how far he’s come. So, I was just happy to get the win and play good tennis.”
DRAW: Australian Open 2024 men's qualifying
In other Australian successes, wildcard Edward Winter defeated Italian Franco Agamenone, ranked 544 places higher than the 19-year-old.
Another wildcard, Tristan Schoolkate, rallied from a set down to overcome Japan’s Sho Shimabukuro.
Aussie women thriving
Among the nine local women to advance was Storm Hunter, who began her qualifying quest with victory over former world No.15 Kaia Kanepi.
The 29-year-old, the WTA doubles No.1, was relieved after posting her 6-3 6-2 victory against Kanepi, who is ranked four spots higher at world No.175.
HUNTER: From “happy to be on court” to world No.1
“When I saw the draw, I thought that’s pretty tough,” Hunter said, who recovered from 0-3 down in the first set.
“Kanepi’s an unbelievable player, she’s gone so well at Slams and had an amazing career, so I definitely knew I had to bring my A game.
“I ended up playing a really good match played on my terms and I was enjoying the crowd out there. It was a lot of fun.”
Maddison Inglis was the final Aussie woman to earn a second-round spot, after recording a hard-fought 4-6 6-3 7-5 victory against world No.107 Nuria Parrizas Diaz.
“This morning and yesterday I watched a few of the girls and they’re all playing so well,” Inglis said of her Aussie peers.
“I feel like there’s a lot of belief and we’re all encouraging each other. I’m really happy for the other girls and I’m really happy to be one of the nine through.”
The 25-year-old wildcard needed two hours and 31 minutes to navigate past the in-form Parrizas Diaz, who scooped a WTA 125 title in Canberra last week. It marked Inglis’ biggest win since August 2022.
DRAW: Australian Open 2024 women's qualifying
Meanwhile, Maya Joint, a 17-year-old wildcard, scored a hard-fought 6-3 1-6 7-5 victory against Serbian Natalija Stevanovic – a player nearly 12 years older and ranked almost 400 places higher at world No.185.
Joint managed to strike 24 winners to 11 but had to battle her own nerves in a Grand Slam-level debut.
“I was kind of shanking on the first couple of shots,” she revealed. “I really wanted to do well. I’m so grateful that I got a wildcard and so happy I could win a match.”
Joint joins fellow Aussie youngsters Talia Gibson and Melisa Ercan in the second round – the first time three Australian teenagers have progressed to this stage of women’s qualifying since 1999.
Later on Wednesday, in a second-round match, Priscilla Hon beat 29th seed Dalma Galfi in three sets to move to within one win of the AO 2024 main draw.