Gold Coast teenager Ben Mitchell heads up a strong Australian assault on the qualifying rounds of the Brisbane International at the Queensland Tennis Centre today.
The 18-year-old earned a wildcard into the event after a breakout year in which he made the Wimbledon Junior final and was a hitting partner for the Australian Davis Cup squad.
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Mitchell is among a contingent of eight Australians attempting to win their way into the main draw.
Peter Luczak, Carsten Ball, Matt Ebden, Sam Groth, Greg Jones, James Duckworth (the last three being granted wildcards into the qualifying) will be attempting to win their first of three matches required to get a start in the main draw.
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Meanwhile, Melbourne youngster Olivia Rogowska continued her bright form of late with a fighting three set win over Shuai Zhang of China in the first round of women’s qualifying today. She will meet Arantxa Rus from the Netherlands in the second round today.
Rogowska is the only Australian remaining in the women’s qualifying after Isabella Holland, Tammy Patterson and Jessica Moore all lost their first round qualifying matches in straight sets.
On day one of qualifying for the women, three of the top four seeds were upset with No.1 Olga Govortsova, No.2 Monica Niculescu and No.4 Zhang tipped out.
Women’s qualifying first round results:
Masa Zec Peskiric (SLO) d Tammy Patterson (AUS) 6-0 7-6(2)
Olivia Rogowska (AUS) d Shuai Zhang (CHN) 6-0 4-6 6-1
Arantxa Rus (NED d[WC] Isabella Holland (AUS) 6-2 6-2
[7] Ksenia Pervak (RUS) d[WC] Jessica Moore (AUS) 6-3 6-0
Anastasia Pivovarova (RUS) d [1] Olga Govortsova (BLR) 6-4 7-5
Christina Mchale (USA) d [2] Monica Niculescu (ROU) 6-26-2
[5]Sorana Cirstea (ROU) d Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) 6-3 4-6 6-4
[3] Vania King (USA) d Sesil Karatantcheva (KAZ) 6-3 6-3
[8] Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) d Anastasiya Yakimova (BLR) 6-3 6-1
Rebecca Marino (CAN) d Mariya Koryttseva (UKR) 4-6 6-2 6-3
Alison Riske (USA) d Olga Savchuk (UKR) 6-4 6-3
[6] Karolina Sprem (CRO) d Misaki Doi (JPN) 6-4 5-7 7-5
Lucie Hradecka (CZE) d Petra Martic (CRO) 6-4 6-4
Anna Tatishvili (GEO) d Darya Kustova (BLR) 7-6(4) 7-6(1)
Virginie Razzano (FRA) d Mariana Duque Marino (COL) 7-6(1) 6-4
Alexandra Panova (RUS) d Coco Vandeweghe (USA) 7-6(4) 7-6(5)