Seventeen-year-old National Academy Canberra players, Kaitlin Staines and Lisa Mays are into the second qualifying round of the Apis Canberra International.
Staines struggled early before beating Queensland’s Tiana Windbuchler 7-6 (4) 6-1, while Mays proved too strong for Kelsey Lewis (NSW) 6-2 6-3.
Staines, who hasn’t played a competitive singles match since July, said she was just happy to get through to the second qualifying round.
“It’s really good to get back into it,” she said. “I was going into the match feeling not as much pressure as I normally would…but I was happy with how I played.”
The big-serving right-hander admits she was rusty having taken the past couple of months off tennis to focus on her HSC studies.
“I’m pretty sure I hit the ball on every single bit of the racquet, the wind didn’t help too much,” she said. “As I got more confident out there, it got a lot better.”
She will play tenacious South Australian Genevieve Lorbergs in the second qualifying round.
“She’s a different player, she’s probably not as aggressive as most players. She’ll slice, she’ll do anything to win, but I’m looking forward to it, I have nothing to lose.”
Staines, from Wagga Wagga, said she’s enjoying getting back on the court again in Canberra.
“There’s a lot more people to hit with here, the girls are fabulous and, of course, Todd is obviously the best coach ever. They’ve all been so good to me, it’s made a massive difference to my game.”
After sitting her final exam on Thursday, Staines will complete a training block in Canberra before competing in the 18/u Australian Championships in Melbourne and the Australian Open wildcard playoff.
Mays, meanwhile, will meet rising 19-year-old Ramu Ueda (JPN), a player she has lost to in her past two meetings.
“The last time [we played] I lost in the second set 7-5, so I’m feeling more confident. I know what I have to do to beat her. I have to make more balls, stay aggressive, play well and stay mentally tough because she likes to grind and get balls back. She doesn’t give anything away.”
Canberra’s Annerly Poulos battled hard but went down in three sets to Anne-Marie Medcalf (NSW) 6-3 2-6 3-6.
Medcalf will now meet top seed Priscilla Hon (QLD) in the second qualifying round on Monday.
In men’s qualifying action Matthew Barton (NSW) eliminated 2015 champion Ben Mitchell (QLD) to make it through to the main draw along with Dane Propoggia, Calum Puttergill QLD) and Gavin Van Peperzeel (QLD). Van Peperzeel won an epic battle with second seed Chris O’Connell 6-7 7-6 7-6.
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