Australia’s Storm Hunter completed a successful qualifying campaign in Paris.
Paris, France, May 26, 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Storm Hunter has earned a coveted spot in the 2023 Roland Garros main draw.
The 28-year-old Australian took a tough 7-6(3), 7-5 win over American teenager Ashlyn Krueger in the final qualifying round in Paris.
World No. 162 Krueger had the advantage early before Hunter recovered from a 3-5 loss in the first set.
The pace changes continued in the second set. Hunter built a 5-2 lead, only for Krueger to save two match points in the 5-all equalizing process.
But Hunter eventually completed her third straight straight set win in two hours and 12 minutes.
This is the second time in Hunter’s career that she has earned a spot in the Grand Slam singles draw through qualifiers. World No. 202 also qualified in Paris two years ago.
The last Australian to complete a successful Roland Garros qualifier twice was Michelle Jaggard-Lai in 1994.
Besides Hunter, only three other Australians (Rachel McQuillan in 1996, Sophie Ferguson in 2010 and Olivia Rogowska in 2015) have qualified in Paris in the last 28 years.
Jaimee Fourlis was also hoping to join this list today, but her qualifying mission failed.
French wildcard Fiona Ferro, a former top 40 player, recorded a 6-3 2-6 6-4 victory over the 23-year-old Australian.
Ferro fired 29 winners to 10 Fourlis in their two-hour, 22-minute final qualifying round battle.
The main draw in Paris starts tomorrow and will be broadcast live in Australia on Nine Network and Stan Sport (from 18:30 AEST).
Hunter’s opponent in the first round will be determined later.
Australians in action – Roland Garros
RESULTS
Women’s Singles Elimination Final Round
Storm Hunter (AUS) d Ashlyn Krueger (US) 7-6(3) 7-5
(CM) Fiona Ferro (FRA) b Jaimee Fourlis (AUS) 6-3 2-6 6-4
COMING
Men’s singles, first round
(18) Alex de Minaur (AUS) v Ilya Ivashka
Max Purcell (Australia) In Jordan Thompson (AUS)
Jason Kubler (AUS) v Qualifier/Lucky Loser
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v Qualifier/Lucky Loser
Chris O’Connell (AUS) vs. Taro Daniel (JPN)
(WC) Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v (20) Dan Evans (UK)
Women’s singles, first round
(WC) Kimberly Birrell (AUS) v (CM) Leolia Jeanjean (FRA)
(Q) Stormhunter (AUS) v To be confirmed
> READ: Roland Garros 2023 singles draw revealed
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