Taylah Preston and Philip Sekulic each recorded spectacular outcomes on the world stage this week.
Australia, 25 September 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Taylah Preston and Philip Sekulic are two of the brightest prospects in Australian tennis, as they proved with spectacular performances this week.
The 17-year-old Preston broke into the world’s high 10 as a junior final 12 months, however is specializing in competing on the skilled degree this season.
The Perth teen loved a stellar week in her hometown, claiming her second ITF 25 singles title. This makes Preston, who has now gained 18 of her previous 22 matches on the professional circuit, the youngest Australian to win a number of titles at this degree in seven years.
The 20-year-old Sekulic is having fun with a breakout season of his personal. The Queensland expertise began the season ranked No.543, however is now set to interrupt into the world’s high 300 after making a memorable tour-level main-draw debut in China.
Sekulic certified at an ATP match for the primary time, then scored a maiden top-100 win in Chengdu.
It was every week to recollect for Storm Hunter too, who defended a WTA doubles title for the primary time in her profession. This effort is about to propel the 29-year-old to a brand new career-high rating of world No.2.
Hunter was amongst six Australian gamers to win skilled titles this week.
This week’s most excellent performers embrace:
Storm Hunter: The 29-year-old defended her WTA 1000 doubles title in Guadalajara (Mexico) alongside Belgian Elise Mertens. That is Hunter’s seventh profession WTA doubles title and third at WTA 1000 degree. Hunter additionally scored her first main-draw singles win at WTA 1000 degree since March 2021.
> READ: Hunter defends doubles title in Guadalajara
Chris O’Connell: The 29-year-old superior to the singles quarterfinals at an ATP 250 match in Chengdu (China). O’Connell has gained 9 of his previous 11 matches and was making his sixth tour-level quarterfinal look of the season.
Jordan Thompson: The 29-year-old defeated two higher-ranked opponents to achieve the singles quarterfinals on the ATP 250 match in Chengdu. This was Thompson’s fourth tour-level quarterfinal look of the season.
Philip Sekulic: The 20-year-old notched a number of main milestones on the ATP 250 match in Chengdu. Sekulic certified at an ATP occasion for the primary time, then scored a primary top-100 win towards world No.88 Nuno Borges, earlier than extending world No.18 Lorenzo Musetti to a few units.
Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell: After going through off within the opening spherical in singles (with Thompson scoring his fifth top-50 win of the season), the Aussie pair teamed as much as attain the doubles quarterfinals in Chengdu.
Alex Bolt: The 30-year-old progressed to the second spherical at an ATP 250 match in Zhuhai (China) as a qualifier. This was Bolt’s finest tour-level end result since July 2021.
Marc Polmans: The 26-year-old certified at an ATP-level occasion for the primary time since September 2021. Polmans, who went onto make the second spherical on the ATP 250 occasion in Zhuhai, has now gained seven of his previous 9 singles matches.
Luke Saville: The 29-year-old’s singles return continues to realize momentum, qualifying for an ATP-level occasion (in Zhuhai) for the primary time in seven years.
Dane Sweeny: The 22-year-old certified at an ATP occasion for the primary time in his profession, incomes a main-draw spot in Zhuhai.
Tristan Schoolkate and Adam Walton: The 22-year-old Schoolkate and 24-year-old Walton superior to the doubles semifinals at an ATP Challenger in Colombus (USA). Schoolkate additionally progressed to the quarterfinals in singles.
Elysia Bolton and Alexandra Bozovic: The Aussie duo had been doubles finalists at an ITF 60 match in Berkeley (USA). It was the sixth ultimate look this season for each 23-year-old Bolton and 24-year-old Bozovic.
Taylah Preston: The 17-year-old gained the singles title at an ITF 25 match in her hometown of Perth. Preston didn’t drop a set and defeated three higher-ranked opponents to assert her second profession ITF title. Preston additionally completed runner-up in doubles alongside Talia Gibson.
Destanee Aiava and Maddison Inglis: The Aussie pair gained their second consecutive doubles title on the ITF 25 occasion in Perth. It’s 23-year-old Aiava’s fifth doubles title of the season and 25-year-old Inglis’ second.
Talia Gibson: The 19-year-old completed runner-up within the singles occasion on the ITF 25 match in Perth. It was Gibson’s second consecutive finals look on the Australian Professional Tour. Gibson was additionally a doubles finalist.
Blake Mott: The 27-year-old gained the singles title at an ITF 25 match in Darwin. That is Mott’s fifth profession singles title and his second prior to now fortnight.
> READ: Mott secures back-to-back Australian Professional Tour titles
Thomas Fancutt: The 28-year-old gained his second consecutive Australian Professional Tour doubles title on the ITF 25 match in Darwin. Fancutt claimed his twenty third profession title alongside New Zealand’s Ajeet Rai.
Jake Delaney: The 26-year-old superior to his first ITF singles ultimate on the Australian Professional Tour occasion in Darwin, the place he recorded a runner-up end.
Blake Bayldon and Brandon Walkin: The 24-year-old Bayldon and 29-year-old Walkin had been doubles finalists on the ITF 25 match in Darwin.
Thomas Braithwaite: The 23-year-old was a doubles finalist at an ITF 15 match in Monastir (Tunisia) with Germany’s Max Wiskandt. Braithwaite additionally superior to the singles quarterfinals.
Maya Joint: The 17-year-old gained the most important singles title of her junior profession at an ITF J300 match in Houston (USA). Joint additionally gained the doubles title with American Ariana Anazagasty-Pursoo.
E book on-line, play in the present day: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on court docket and have some enjoyable!
