Melbourne VIC, Australia, 19 February 2018 | tennis.com.au

Sam Stosur stands one win away from taking her place in the main draw of the WTA tournament in Dubai after winning two rounds of qualifying.

Playing for the first time in the qualifying draw at a tour-level event in more than nine years, Stosur has beaten Ankita Raina and Christina McHale – both in straight sets – to set up a final-round bout against Maria Sakkari of Greece.

The world No.45 missed the cut for the main draw, which stands at 39.

> WTA Dubai main draw

Stosur has won three of her last four matches in the Middle East, after reaching the second round of last week’s Qatar Total Open in Doha.

In the concurrent WTA event in Budapest, Stosur’s compatriot Arina Rodionova is also in qualifying and won her opening match to move to within one win of the main draw.

> WTA Budapest main draw

She’ll face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini on Monday after beating Sofya Lansere in just 48 minutes on Sunday.

In Delray Beach, John-Patrick Smith beat Ernesto Escobedo and Cameron Norrie in qualifying to seal a spot in the main draw of the ATP hardcourt event.

He joins fellow Aussie Matt Ebden in the draw; Ebden will in the first round take on young American wildcard Frances Tiafoe for a likely shot at second seed Juan Martin del Potro.

> ATP Delray Beach main draw

Following a draw reshuffle, Smith will take on No.1 seed Jack Sock in the first round.

The reshuffle came after the withdrawal of Aussie Nick Kyrgios, who was the tournament’s fifth seed.

That saw the promotion of Milos Raonic – Sock’s original first-round opponent – to No.9 seed, with the Canadian taking Kyrgios’ slot in the draw.

Kyrgios pulled out of the tournament due to an elbow injury.

In another result, Jordan Thompson won his first title since 2016 with victory at the ATP Chennai Challenger.

The Sydneysider beat India’s Yuki Bhambri 7-5 3-6 7-5 in a nail-biting final.

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