Barty, Rodionova one step from US Open main draw
UPDATE: Ash Barty and Anastasia Rodionova stand one win away from the US Open main draw after each won their second-round qualifying matches on Thursday at Flushing Meadows.
New York, NY, USA, 22 August 2014 | tennis.com.au
Wins by Ash Barty and Anastasia Rodionova on Thursday at Flushing Meadows have put the Aussie duo each just one win away from the US Open main draw.
Barty was ruthless in her 6-4 6-0 victory over American Caitlyn Whoriskey, winning in less than an hour.
The Australian pounded 22 winners to 10, sent down five aces and won 11 of 15 points at the net to set up a final round qualifying stoush with another American in Melanie Oudin.
Oudin, the 26th seed, was the darling of the US Open back in 2009, advancing to the quarterfinals as a 17-year-old with victories over powerful Russians Elena Dementieva, Maria Sharapova and Nadia Petrova.
Rodionova, meanwhile, overcame 22nd seed Dinah Pfizenmaier 6-4 3-6 6-2 in one hour and 41 minutes.
She next faces Dutchwoman Richel Hogenkamp, who beat Urszula Radwanska in three sets.
Earlier in the day, Australia’s representation in men’s qualifying came to an end when James Duckworth and Thanasi Kokkinakis were eliminated on Thursday.
Duckworth was ousted 6-2 7-6(3) by American Ernesto Escobedo, while Kokkinakis fought for three torrid sets before going down to fellow 18-year-old Yoshihito Nishioka 7-5 4-6 6-4.
In other women’s results, No.6 seed seed Olivia Rogowska was beaten 6-4 6-3 by Germany’s Laura Siegeman, while Arina Rodionova fell 6-4 6-2 to Lin Zhu of China.
Daria Gavrilova was beaten 6-3 6-1 by Jung-Jan Chan of Taiwan.