Update 6:15 pm. A trio of Russians have won through qualifying to earn main draw berths.
Vera Dushevina, Nina Bratchikova and Alexandra Panova all began 2012 on the right foot and are now guaranteed prize money of at least $4700.
Third seed Dushevina defeated spirited Ukrainian Lesia Tsurenko 6-4 5-7 6-2 to set up a fifth meeting against Galina Voskoboeva. Voskoboeva – now ranked slightly below her career-high 56 – broke through at last August’s Canadian Open where she upset Marion Bartoli, Flavia Pennetta and Maria Sharapova as a qualifer.
In a battle between two 26-year-olds, Bratchikova overcame Luxembourg’s Mandy Minella 2-6 6-4 6-1. She will next play Klara Zakopalova.
Another Russian, Alexandra Panova upset Georgian fourth seed Anna Tatishvili to book a first round berth against hard-hitting Estonian Kaia Kanepi.
Meanwhile, top seed Vania King defeated Switzerland’s Stefanie Voegele 7-5 4-6 6-0 and will play Hungary’s Melinda Czink who is using a special ranking in her comeback from injury.
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Men’s second round qualifying
Among the men, in-form eighth seed Jesse Levine, who won USTA’s Australian Open wildcard playoff in December, is through to the final round of qualifying after defeating local wildcard Maverick Banes 6-2 6-3.
The American will meet German top seed Tobias Kamke who toppled Aussie Greg Jones 6-3 6-3. Kamke – ranked 68 places above Levine at 96– triumphed in four sets in the pair’s only previous encounter at Wimbledon qualifying in 2010.
Estonian sixth seed Jurgen Zopp and Russian second seed Igor Andreev both recovered from first set deficits to oust Australian pair Matt Reid and Gavin Van Peperzeel respectively. The pair will meet Monday for the first time.
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Japanese third seed Tatsuma Ito cruised against 2011 Wimbledon Junior Boys’ champion Luke Saville 6-2 6-2 to set up a clash against Aussie Michael Look who dispatched countryman Colin Ebelthite 6-3 6-4.
Queensland wildcard John Millman gave the New Year’s Day crowd something to cheer about, defeating Lithuania’s Laurynas Grigelis 4-6 6-2 6-2, a player ranked 343 places above him. Yesterday, Millman upset fifth seed Bobby Reynolds in three sets and will play either compatriot Chris Guccione or Czech Republic’s Jan Hernych.
More to come