Top four seeds in AO Play-off semifinals
The women's semifinals are set at the Australian Open Play-off, with Destanee Aiava to face Kimberly Birrell and No.1 seed Arina Rodionova to take on Tammi Patterson.
Melbourne VIC, Australia, 14 December 2017 | Luke Dennehy
First-time doubles partners Destanee Aiava and Tammi Patterson are also enjoying success on the singles court at the Australian Open Play-off at Melbourne Park this week.
Aiava and Patterson – who are teaming up for the first time – will on Friday play Astra Sharma and Belinda Woolcock for a wildcard into the women’s doubles main draw at Australian Open 2018.
And both posted wins in the singles Play-off quarterfinals on Thursday.
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Aiava, the No.2 seed, was too good for sixth seed Zoe Hives, winning in three sets 6-2 5-7 6-0.
After Hives lifted her came with some powerful groundstrokes in the second set, she was no match for Aiava in the third.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Aiava said. “The match was very up and down in the second set, but I knew I was physically strong and mentally strong when I put my mind to it, so I’m really happy to get through.
“I’m one step closer (to the wildcard) and I’m taking it one match at a time.”
Aiava, who made the finals of the 18/u girls Australian championships last week before losing to Jaimee Fourlis in three tough sets, has played more matches then anyone at Melbourne Park for the December Showdown.
Despite this, she said she has been pulling up well.
“It hasn’t been too bad,” she said. “I’ve been recovering well so now it’s all about relaxing before tomorrow.”
Patterson, who defeated Naiktha Bains 6-3 4-6 6-4 in two hours and 20 minutes, has been awarded a wildcard into the Australian Open before – back in the 2016 tournament.
The third seed was happy to get through a three-set thriller against Bains, whose game she knows well.
“It was real high quality tennis,” Patterson said. “Naiktha came out swinging and I knew she would. She put me under a lot of pressure and I knew I would have to lift my game to get through.”
Also into the semifinals of the Australian Open Play-off – which will take place at Melbourne Park on Saturday – are Kimberly Birrell and Arina Rodionova, rounding out the top four seeds.
Fourth seed Birrell defeated Alexandra Bozovic 6-4 6-1, while Rodionova, the tournament’s No.1 seed, trailed 3-0 in the final set before recovering to beat Olivia Tjandramulia 6-3 0-6 6-4.
In the semifinals, Rodionova will take on Patterson while Aiava faces Birrell.