Jan 9, 2024 at 8:06 am
Lesley Pattinama-Kerkhove is looking forward to her first ever participation in the Australian Open. The Dutch defeated the Italian Lucrezia Stefanini on Tuesday in the first round of the qualifying tournament. Suzan Lamens failed in the preliminary rounds.
The 32-year-old Pattinama-Kerkhove was too strong in Melbourne in two sets for Stefanini, who is seven years younger, who is more than a hundred places higher in the world rankings (WTA-235 to WTA-126). Pattinama-Kerkhove won twice 6-3. She will play against Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa in the next round.
The 24-year-old Lamens could not qualify for the second round of the qualifying tournament. The number 205 in the world had to bow to the American Katie Volynets (WTA-103) in two tiebreaks: 7-6 (6) and 7-6 (4).
Arianne Hartono is the third Dutch player in the qualifying tournament. She will play against the Hungarian Panna Udvardy on Wednesday. For the men, Jesper de Jong and Gijs Brouwer are trying to reach the main tournament. De Jong will meet the Italian Raul Brancaccio on Tuesday. Brouwer will face the Slovakian Alex Molcan on Wednesday.
Arantxa Rus, Tallon Greekpoor and Botic van de Zandschulp have been admitted directly to the main tournament, which starts on Sunday.
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Van de Zandschulp and Rus triumph in the run-up to the Australian Open
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Nadal sustains a new injury shortly after his return and misses the Australian Open
Image: ANP
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TennisAustralian OpenLesley Pattinama-Kerkhove
2024-01-09 07:06:18
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