- Melisa Ercan won her qualifying match at Melbourne Park
- The 18-year-old showed great courage in the face of inury
- Fared better than top-ranked Aussie Arina Rodionova
Teenage wildcard Melisa Ercan’s bold bid for a spot in the Australian Open main draw remains alive, despite the Queenslander leaving court in a wheelchair on a day of high drama at Melbourne Park.
The 18-year-old world No.517 courageously outlasted British veteran Yuriko Miyazaki on the first day of qualifying after rain completely washed out Monday’s schedule.
Ercan led a raft of positive results for the local brigade looking to contest the season’s first grand slam starting on Sunday, with eight locals progressing to the second round of qualifying.
Ercan is pictured cradling her injured calf after her courageous straight-sets victory over British veteran Yuriko Miyazaki at Melbourne Park on Tuesday
The 18-year-old needed assistance (pictured) when the injury struck as she raced to a comfortable lead in the second set
Ending the match in tears, Ercan showcased her fighting spirit to secure a 6-4 7-6 (7-5) victory after a calf injury almost brought her undone.
The Turkish-born talent clawed her way back from 2-4 down to win the first set, then looked on her way to an impressive victory, leading 4-1 in the second.
But Ercan, who became an Australian citizen last year, started to struggle, with her calf seizing up.
Miyazaki, whose highest world ranking is No.154, took advantage to level before the set went to a tiebreak.
The big-serving Ercan jumped ahead and wrapped up the win on her second match point, thanks to another error from her opponent.
But the youngster immediately sought treatment from the tournament physiotherapist before being wheeled from court.
Fitness permitting, Ercan will next face Wei Sijia of China in her quest to win three straight qualifying matches and make a grand-slam debut.
Ercan (pictured playing at last year’s French Open) will be sweating on her fitness as she is due to face Wei Sijia of China in her next match
The Queensland-based big server wasted no time getting help from a physiotherapist
While six other Australians successfully progressed to the second round of qualifying, the nation’s No.1 women’s player Arina Rodionova didn’t – and she wasn’t happy.
After exiting with a 6-3 6-4 loss to lower-ranked Frenchwoman Leolia Jeanjean, Rodionova took a parting swipe at Tennis Australia for not awarding her a wildcard.
‘I don’t even know how to justify the reasoning behind it. I had a great year. I’ve done everything I possibly could to deserve it,’ Rodionova said less than a week after beating 2020 AO champion Sofia Kenin at the Brisbane International.
‘They just don’t like me, simply.’
While Rodionova is out, six other Australian women edged to within two wins of a spot in the main draw.
Australia’s top-ranked female star Arina Rodionova (pictured) took a swipe at the governing body after losing her qualifying match
WA’s Astra Sharma battled to a 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-3 win over Portugal’s Francisca Jorge, Queenslander Priscilla Hon downed exciting 15-year-old fellow Australian Emerson Jones 6-2 7-5, and Perth teenager Talia Gibson prevailed 6-3 1-6 6-2 against Romanian Andreea Mitu.
Wildcard Ivana Popovic also progressed with a 6-3 6-2 win over over Croatia’s Tena Lukas, before Melbourne local Destinee Aiava rounded out the day with a 6-3 7-6 (7-5) win over Frenchwoman Chloe Paquet.
But South Australian Petra Hule fell 6-4 6-4 to 10th-seeded Czech Brenda Fruhvirtova, and Jaimee Fourliss lost 6-4 6-3 to Mexican second seed Renata Zarazua.
In men’s action, Australian wildcard Dane Sweeny secured a hard-fought 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 victory over Italian Matteo Gigante, while Li Tu was a first-round casualty.