WA’s Taylah Preston has been awarded a coveted main-draw singles wildcard for the Australian Open 2024.
Preston will be joined by fellow Australian Kimberly Birrell and Olivia Gadecki who will compete in the women’s singles competition, with James Duckworth, Marc Polmans and Adam Walton receiving wildcards into the men’s singles draw.
At just 18, Preston is the youngest of the Aussie wildcard recipients and will make her Grand Slam main-draw debut at Melbourne Park this summer.
The powerful ball-striker from Perth, ranked world No.836 in April, soared towards the top 200 after a brilliant transition to the pro tour, where she won four trophies – the most recent a 60K Australian Pro Tour title in Brisbane in November.
Preston also performed well at the Perth Pro Tour Events in September. After losing to fellow West Australian Talia Gibson in the Pro Tour #1 Semi Final, Preston claimed her second ITF 25 singles title winning the Perth pro Tour #2.
“I’ve dreamed of playing the Australian Open since I first started playing tennis so to be given this opportunity is amazing and I am extremely grateful and excited,” said Preston, who cracked the world’s junior top 10 in 2022.
“I’m working hard on and off the court to prepare and I can’t wait to get out on court and play.”
The remaining wildcard recipients will be announced ahead of the tournament, which runs from 14 – 28 January.
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