Thursday was a remarkable day for Australian tennis as four Aussies advanced through qualifying to make the Australian Open main draw, and 20-year-old Taylah Preston stunned former US Open champ Emma Raducanu in Hobart. Dane Sweeney, Storm Hunter, Jason Kubler and Maddison Inglis all won their final qualifying matches at Melbourne Park to reach the Australian Open main draw, giving the local contingent 21 players – 11 men and 10 women – in the singles competition.
Remarkably, it was the first time since 1992 that four Aussies had reached the Australian Open through qualifying. Even more remarkably, two of them – Kubler and Inglis – are engaged to be married, and qualified within minutes of each other.
Storm Hunter, Maddison Inglis, Jason Kubler and Dane Sweeney all qualified for the Australian Open. Images: First Serve/Australian Open
Kubler fought back from a set down against Alexander Blockx, before the German retired hurt when the Australian was leading 3-6 6-3 1-0. He was then able to see Inglis seal a 6-4 6-4 win over Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch just minutes later, claiming her first main draw berth at her home grand slam since 2022.
“To see her get over the hump and qualify – it’s just so cool,” Kubler said. “I would actually say I felt happier watching her do that than I did at the end of my match.
“I played (the Australian Open) a couple years ago, and it’s been a bit of a bumpy ride since then. But fortunately for me, today, it worked out and I get another chance, which is nice.”
Inglid didn’t initially realise Kubler had won. “I saw he lost the first set and then he was over to my match not too much longer after, so I was like, ‘oh bugger, he must have lost in straight (sets),” she said.
“It was a really special moment. It’s pretty crazy. It’s not every day you both get through qualifying, and are in the main draw of a grand slam.”
Jason Kubler and Maddison Inglis are engaged to be married. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
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The 24-year-old Sweeny overcame Italy’s Stefano Travaglia 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3) to qualify for the Open for just the second time in his career. And Hunter downed American Taylor Townsend 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 to qualify for the second year running.
Taylah Preston beats grand slam champion in Hobart
Inglis, Hunter and Sweeney all fell to the court after winning their third and final qualifying matches of the week to advance. And just hours later it was more good news for Australia as Preston beat grand slam champion Raducanu to make the Hobart semi-finals.
The 20-year-old Preston – ranked World No.204 – beat No.29 Raducanu 6-2 6-4 on Thursday night. It marked the best win of her career by ranking, and the first time she’s made the final four of a WTA level event.
Preston has a wildcard for the Australian Open and will face Chinese veteran Zhang Shuai in the opening round. “I’m feeling pretty good about my game,” she said. “To be able to beat these really good players gives a massive confidence boost but the job is not done yet.”
Taylah Preston beat Emma Raducanu for the finest win of her young career. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)
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