Destanee Aiava’s dream summer of tennis continued on Saturday when the 16-year-old Victorian moved one step closer to qualifying for the main draw at the Brisbane International.
A few weeks ago Aiava surprised as the Australian Open Wildcard Play-Off champion, and Saturday she dropped just two games in dispatching Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-2, 6-0 to move into the final round of qualifying.
It’s there she’ll face No.4 seed Carina Witthoeft of Germany, who progressed when another Australian, Anastasia Rodionova, retired hurt while trailing in the deciding set.
Aiava wasn’t the lone Australian to win through on Day 2 of qualifying play, as Alex De Minaur, a 17-year-old Sydneysider, won his opening-round match in an upset over No.1 seed Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4, 7-6(7).
Queensland native John-Patrick Smith was also victorious, winning 6-2, 6-3 over No.7 seed Stefan Kozlov.
Not so lucky were Australians Lizette Cabrera and Andrew Whittington, however, who lost in tight two-set battles.
The men were competing in first-round matches while the women were on to round two, though both have just one more round to go due to different sized draws. All qualifying is due to be completed on Sunday.
It was a strong day for the American contingent, with Asia Muhammad, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Tim Smyczek, Frances Tiafoe, Ernesto Escobedo and Jared Donaldson all registering wins.
Men’s No.3 seed Yoshihito Nishioka bested Japanese countryman Go Soeda in three sets, 6-4, 0-6, 6-2.
Women’s top seed Kateryna Bondarenko advanced in straight sets, while former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone needed three sets to hold off Jennifer Brady, 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-3 in two hours, 16 minutes on a hot Queensland day.