New York, USA, 22 August 2024 | Leigh Rogers

Seven Australian players have advanced to the final round in US Open qualifying, marking our best result in 30 years.

This includes a record six women, the most Australians to ever reach this stage in a US Open qualifying draw. This doubles the previous best of three, only achieved twice in the past 25 years.

Arina Rodionova, Australia’s top-ranked woman in the field at world No.118, scored a 6-4 6-4 victory against Romania’s Irina Bara in second-round action today at Flushing Meadows.

The 34-year-old Rodionova, who is enjoying her best run in US Open qualifying since 2010, will now play world No.182 Mananchaya Sawangkaew for a coveted main-draw place.

World No.136 Maya Joint continues to prove one to watch, with the 18-year-old securing her place in the final qualifying round with a 7-5 3-6 6-0 victory against Iryna Shymanovich.

Joint, who has improved her ranking almost 550 places since the start of the season and is aiming to make her Grand Slam main-draw debut, faces world No.106 Hailey Baptiste in tomorrow’s final round.

World No.172 Talia Gibson bravely saved a match point in her 6-3 1-6 7-6(10) triumph against American hope Hanna Chang to continue her memorable first US Open appearance.

The 20-year-old from Perth, who also progressed to the final qualifying round at Wimbledon earlier this year, next faces world No.115 Marina Bassols Ribera from Spain.

Priscilla Hon needed only 44 minutes to power past world No.126 Daria Snigur 6-1 6-0 in their second-round meeting. The 26-year-old from Brisbane’s reward is a final-round showdown with the top seed, world No.104 Kamilla Rakhimova.

This is the second time that world No.205 Hon has progressed to the final qualifying round at Flushing Meadows, matching her effort in 2019.

Destanee Aiava continued her impressive march through the draw, eliminating world No.110 Mai Hontama 6-3 6-4. The fourth-seeded Japanese player becomes the highest-ranked opponent that 24-year-old Aiava has defeated at Grand Slam level.

Through to the final qualifying round at the US Open for a first time, world No.180 Aiava next faces Croatian Ana Konjuh, a former top-20 player who won the US Open girls’ singles title in 2013 and was a quarterfinalist at the tournament in 2016.

Meanwhile, Kimberly Birrell booked her place in the final round of US Open qualifying for a second consecutive year with a 6-4 6-4 win against Slovenian Veronika Erjavec.

To qualify in New York for a first time, the 26-year-old from the Gold Coast will need to beat American wildcard Julieta Pareja, a 15-year-old who has upset two higher-ranked opponents to reach this stage.

Li Tu is enjoying his deepest run in a Grand Slam men’s qualifying singles draw, progressing to the final round for a first time.

The 28-year-old from Adelaide scored a 7-5 7-5 victory against Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti, setting up a final-round clash with world No.130 Jesper de Jong from the Netherlands.

The Australian qualifying contenders are looking to join 14 peers (11 men and three women) already in the singles main draws at this year’s US Open.

Aussies in action – US Open

RESULTS
Women’s qualifying singles, second round
[16] Arina Rodionova (AUS) d Irina Bara (ROU) 6-4 6-4
[32] Maya Joint (AUS) d Iryna Shymanovich 7-5 3-6 6-0
Destanee Aiava (AUS) d [4] Mai Hontama (JPN) 6-3 6-4
Priscilla Hon (AUS) d [23] Daria Snigur (UKR) 6-1 6-0
Talia Gibson (AUS) d Hanna Chang (USA) 6-3 1-6 7-6(10)
Kimberly Birrell (AUS) d Veronika Erjavec (SLO) 6-4 6-4
[9] Eva Lys (GER) d Olivia Gadecki (AUS) 6-3 4-6 6-1
[11] Ann Li (USA) d Astra Sharma (AUS) 6-4 6-4

Men’s qualifying singles, second round
Li Tu (AUS) d Marco Trungelliti (ARG) 7-5 7-5
[3] Aslan Karatsev d Marc Polmans (AUS) 6-0 6-3
[WC] Nishesh Basavareddy (USA) d Alex Bolt (AUS) 7-6(4) 7-6(2)

COMING UP
Women’s qualifying singles, final round
[16] Arina Rodionova (AUS) v Mananchaya Sawangkaew (THA)
[32] Maya Joint (AUS) v [3] Hailey Baptiste (USA)
Priscilla Hon (AUS) v [1] Kamilla Rakhimova
Talia Gibson (AUS) v [12] Marina Bassols Ribera
Destanee Aiava (AUS) v Ana Konjuh (CRO)
Kimberly Birrell (AUS) v [WC] Julieta Pareja (USA)

> VIEW: US Open 2024 women’s qualifying singles draw

Men’s qualifying singles, final round
Li Tu (AUS) v [6] Jesper de Jong (NED)

> VIEW: US Open 2024 men’s qualifying singles draw

Find your way to play: Visit play.tennis.com.au to get out on court and have some fun!