Inspired qualifier Maddison Inglis has ridden an emotional rollercoaster in her first grand slam appearance in four years to book a spot in the Australian Open third round.
Inglis has joined big gun Alex de Minaur in the round of 32 after defeating German veteran Laura Siegemund 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-7) in a tense, gruelling and sometimes fiery match that lasted three hours and 20 minutes on ANZ Arena.
After failing to serve out the match in the second set, the 28-year-old’s hopes of progressing seemed over.
But in mirroring her first-round win over close friend Kim Birrell, when she failed to convert a gilt-edged opportunity, Inglis turned it around by breaking back when Siegemund was serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set.
Despite appearing to injure herself late when stretching for a ball, the Perth product recovered and overcame some nervous moments to win the first-to-10-point tiebreaker.
Inglis fell to the ground after winning the final point in a tense rally, becoming the only Australian woman to make the third round.
“I didn’t come in with high expectations. I can take it to anyone on any given day, but I wouldn’t have dreamed of this,” Inglis said.
“In the third set the crowd gave me the energy I didn’t think I had. Coming into this I hadn’t played a match for six weeks.”
She has spent six hours and 21 minutes on court in her two main-draw singles matches this campaign, plus a doubles match and three qualifying wins.
After not playing in the main draw of a grand slam since 2022, Inglis is guaranteed to pocket $327,750 for reaching the third round.
Currently ranked 168 but sure to rise to the cusp of the top 100, Inglis equals her best result at a major, which came at Melbourne Park four years ago.
After 11 Australians qualified for the second round, de Minaur and Inglis will likely be the only ones still left.
Rinky Hijikata and Dane Sweeny bowed out early on Thursday, going down to their higher-ranked opponents.
Two days after winning his first match at a major, Sweeny was blown away by American eighth seed Ben Shelton in just an hour and 42 minutes.
Hijikata was bullied early by 30th seed Valentin Vacherot, before briefly fighting back in the first match of the day on Kia Arena.
Pinching the third set, the 24-year-old made the Monaco player – who was playing at Melbourne Park for the first time – work harder for his win than he had earlier anticipated.
But Vacherot closed out the match 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-2 in two hours and 28 minutes.
It comes after Jordan Thompson, Ajla Tomljanovic, Talia Gibson, Storm Hunter and Priscilla Hon were all casualties during a Wednesday wipeout.
World No 6 de Minaur was the only Australian to advance, eventually demolishing Serb Hamad Medjedovic after being outplayed in the first set.
Wildcard Taylah Preston was able to take a set off 13th seed Linda Noskova, but the 20-year-old lost to the Czech star 6-2 4-6 6-2.
Veteran wildcard James Duckworth faces the biggest mountain to climb of them all, set for a Rod Laver Arena clash in prime time against dual defending champion Jannik Sinner.
