Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis has advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open without hitting a ball, after Naomi Osaka withdrew from their scheduled clash with an abdominal injury. Inglis will now face world No 2 Iga Swiatek, a remarkable turn of events for a player who was two match points from elimination in the first round of qualifying a week ago. "I was down two match points in that match," Inglis told Channel Nine. "Tennis is pretty crazy like that."
The 28-year-old, who has yet to break into the top 100, described the financial impact as life-changing. Her career earnings before arriving in Melbourne stood at about $2.1 million, and the $480,000 cheque for reaching the fourth round is equivalent to nearly a quarter of that total. Even a first-round qualifying loss would have earned her $40,500. "The points, the money, the experience, the fans, the courts that I'm getting to play on, it's honestly unbelievable, it's like a dream," she said. "That money is life-changing."
Saturday's other headline acts struggled in the Melbourne heat. Defending champion Jannik Sinner survived despite severe cramping, Novak Djokovic was almost disqualified for a near miss with a ball girl, and Stan Wawrinka played at Melbourne Park for the last time. Meanwhile, Rod Laver Arena's crowd were offered a consolation doubles match featuring Inglis's fiancé Jason Kubler and his partner Marc Polmans against Jakub Paul and Marcus Willis. "They were super pumped when they found that out," Inglis said. "I'm going to go out and watch a little bit and then get some rest."
Inglis's fellow Australian Kimberly Birrell, who lost to Inglis in a three-hour first-round epic, has also progressed in doubles. Birrell and Talia Gibson upset second seeds Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini to reach the third round. Birrell said Inglis fully deserved her run: "She absolutely deserves to be in the fourth round, and she put herself in the situation." Top-ranked Australian woman Maya Joint, who lost in singles in the first round, also advanced in doubles with partner Storm Hunter, beating No 7 seeds Aleksandra Krunic and Anna Danilina after a near five-hour heat delay.
