If you had told 17-year-old Brisbane native Oliver Anderson Saturday morning he would be playing in the main draw of the Brisbane International, he would never have believed you.
“I would have thought you were joking,” Anderson, the world No.813 said. “But now that it’s happened it’s a pretty good feeling. My main focus is tomorrow and my main draw match.”
Anderson won back-to-back qualifying matches over higher-ranked Americans on Sunday, seeing off world No.109 Tim Smyczek 6-7(3), 7-6(1), 6-2.
It’s his first appearance in the main draw of an ATP World Tour event.
“I didn’t have my hopes up too high,” Anderson said. “Yeah, I’m surprised with how I went.”
In other final round qualifying matches on Sunday, top seed Ernests Gulbis was bundled out by Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in the men’s, while No.2 Margarita Gasparyan lost in the women’s event to Jana Cepelova.
Samantha Crawford, Elena Vesnina and Kateryna Bondarenko were winners, as were Tobias Kamke and Ivan Dodig.
But the story of the day belonged to Anderson, who won in front of a spirited Australian crowd on Show Court 2.
Runner-up at the Junior Championships last month in Australia, Anderson has recently begun to work with former touring pro Wayne Arthurs, one of the game’s biggest servers.
“So far he’s helped a lot with my serve,” Anderson said. “Yeah, because he had a pretty good one, so (it’s) ideal to have him as a coach.”
Just 175cm tall, Anderson has an unlikely tennis hero: American Denis Kudla, who stands 180cm.
“I like players that I can look to play like,” Anderson said. “I see myself trying to make it like he has.”
Anderson is sleeping at home this week in his own bed, though morning meals the past two days have been sparse.
“I’ve been too nervous to eat,” he said. “I’ll sleep well tonight though. I’m exhausted.”
A good sleep and a full breakfast are in need, though. He’s got a main draw match to play on Monday.