The Australian Open 2023 men’s and women’s qualifying singles draws feature 28 Aussie contenders, including West Australians Astra Sharma and Maddison Inglis.
The Australian Open 2023 men’s and women’s qualifying singles draws are set.
The qualifying competition has begun at Melbourne Park, with players needing to win three matches to secure a coveted Australian Open 2023 main-draw spot.
Aleksandar Vukic is the highest-ranked Australian contender in the men’s qualifying singles draw. The No.21 seed begins his campaign against 21-year-old Canadian Gabriel Diallo.
Max Purcell, a two-time Australian Open doubles finalist, has been pitted against the second seed and former world No.16 Marco Cecchinato of Italy in the first round.
Purcell is one of eight Aussie men to be drawn against a seeded opponent in the opening round.
James Duckworth, who peaked at world No.46 last summer, meets Kazakhstan veteran Mikhail Kukushkin, a former world No.39 looking to make a 13th consecutive Australian Open main-draw appearance.
Adam Walton, a recent US college graduate, faces an experienced opponent in his Grand Slam debut. The 23-year-old wildcard plays 36-year-old Spaniard Pablo Andujar, who made the third round at AO 2022.
> READ MORE: Meet our Aussies hopes in the AO 2023 men’s qualifying draw
Several Australian contenders have been dealt tough draws in the women’s qualifying singles competition. This includes Maddison Inglis, who reached the third round at AO 2022. The 24-year-old from Perth faces former world No.10 Kristina Mladenovic.
Wildcard Alexandra Bozovic has been pitted against the top seed, world No.75 Alycia Parks. While Arina Rodionova meets former world No.9 and AO 2017 semifinalist CoCo Vandeweghe.
Zoe Hives, who represented Australia in the inaugural United Cup, clashes with France’s Harmony Tan, who upset Serena Williams at Wimbledon last year.
Priscilla Hon, the highest-ranked Australian in the women’s qualifying singles field, begins her quest against American Katrina Scott.
Two Australian wildcards, Ellen Perez and Petra Hule, will face-off in an all-Aussie first-round showdown.
> READ MORE: Meet our Aussies hopes in the AO 2023 women’s qualifying draw
WA Contenders:
Maddison Inglis, 24
Inglis enjoyed a major breakthrough at Australian Open 2022, scoring her first top-30 win (against US Open 2021 finalist Leylah Fernandez) in a memorable run to the third round. She also successfully qualified at Wimbledon last season and progressed to the final qualifying round at the US Open.
Australian Open career record: 3-7 (1-4 in qualifying)
Australian Open best result: Third round 2022
[WC] Astra Sharma, 27
Sharma successfully qualified at Australian Open 2019 and went on to make 14 consecutive major main-draw appearances. That run ended at last year’s US Open, when she lost in the final qualifying round. Sharma peaked at world No.84 in February 2022, but has since slipped to world No.233.
Australian Open career record: 4-4 (3-0 in qualifying)
Australian Open best result: Second round 2019
[WC] Tristan Schoolkate, 21
This is Schoolkate’s fourth Australian Open qualifying campaign. The 21-year-old continues to improve, advancing to three ITF finals during 2022 and achieving a career-high ranking of world No.367 last month. He scored his second career top-200 win at an ATP Challenger in Canberra last week.
Australian Open career record: 1-3 (1-3 in qualifying)
Australian Open best result: Making debut
[WC] Derek Pham, 18
At world No.1017, Pham is the lowest-ranked competitor in the Australian Open 2023 men’s qualifying singles field. The 18-year-old was impacted by a shoulder injury throughout 2022, restricting him to only five tournaments. Yet he showed his potential to reach a first ITF final, as a qualifier, in New Zealand last month.
Australian Open career record: 0-0 (0-0 in qualifying)
Australian Open best result: Making debut
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