Nonthaburi, Thailand, 28 April 2016 | tennis.com.au

Australia defeated China 2-1 on Wednesday to finish atop Group C at the World Junior Tennis Asia/Oceania final qualifying competition in Thailand.

The team has advanced to the eight-nation knockout stage of the competition and will face Hong Kong on Thursday for a place in August’s World Finals.

Natasha Russell got the green-and-gold off to the perfect start against China, winning her singles rubber in straight sets. China then levelled the tie when Olivia Gadecki fell in three sets.

In the live doubles rubber, Russell and Gadecki combined to grit out a 7-6(9) 6-3 victory to seal a 2-1 triumph for Australia.