Melbourne Park Tennis: Dane Sweeny & Storm Hunter Qualify + Federer Update

When asked to describe his emotions after match point, ⁣Sweeny said he experienced a wave of euphoria.

“It was⁤ just ⁢an overwhelming feeling of gratitude and euphoria for achieving ⁣that. I’m also really proud of myself for persevering.”

Sweeny booked his first ⁢grand slam main draw berth at the Australian ‍Open in 2024, ​though‌ the now ⁣24-year-old‍ concedes he feels more⁤ ready for⁣ the challenge this year.

“I feel like I had good tennis in the past, but ‍I don’t think I was mentally strong enough and mentally ready⁢ for this⁢ level,” he said.​ “But ⁢now… I do feel like I’m earning my spot, and I’m​ showing I do have the mental capacity ​to be able to⁣ perform at the high level.”

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Sweeny thanked his home crowd for their ⁣“exhilarating energy”,‌ crediting‌ the ‌ANZ Arena ⁢audience for pushing him in his ​hardest moments.

Sweeny will now face veteran french​ star ‌Gael Monfils in the first round​ of the Australian⁢ Open, while fellow qualifier Jason Kubler will face American 29th ‌seed frances Tiafoe.

Fellow Australian Storm Hunter also won her ‌women’s qualifying singles battle, defeating American⁤ Taylor Townsend in straight sets.

Maddison Inglis set ⁣up an All-Australian battle in⁤ the first round with Adelaide semi-finalist kim birrell,while⁤ daria Kasatkina and Priscilla Hon will face a pair of qualifiers.

But one Australian who won’t be in the ⁤main draw is Thanasi Kokkinakis, who announced on social media on ‍Thursday that the‌ right⁤ shoulder injury that caused his withdrawal from Adelaide ⁣ would ​also⁤ stop him contesting‌ the singles at Melbourne Park.

He will still compete in the⁢ doubles⁢ draw with Nick Kyrgios, who also‍ opted against playing singles this year.

“Unfortunately after speaking with​ my team and doctors, I have made the⁤ decision to‌ pull out ⁢of‌ the @AustralianOpen singles,” kokkinakis said on X.

“After an incredibly tough year, this was the event I was looking forward to the most, but I’m not ready yet.We will still ⁣give‍ doubles a go.”

Kokkinakis is on the comeback trail ⁣from revolutionary pectoral reattachment surgery in February last year, including the use of an Achilles tendon graft from a dead ​person.
– With Marc McGowan

‘can’t cramp​ under‍ 30 degrees’: Aussie in Adelaide semi

Australia’s Kimberly Birrell has secured an Adelaide International semi-final berth after⁤ emerging triumphant in a match she rates ⁢among her ⁤most ⁤gruelling.

But Australia’s⁣ top-ranked female‍ Maya ⁤Joint has‌ been tipped from the tournament,⁢ hammered by Russia’s world ‍No.8 Mirra Andreeva 6-2, ​6-0.

Joint, ranked ⁤32 in the ⁣world, suffered serious service⁣ yips against the top seed, holding just one game on serve in Thursday night’s lopsided quarter-final.

Her​ compatriot Birrell, given a wildcard into​ the‍ WTA 500 event, overcame⁤ Romanian qualifier Jaqueline ⁢Cristian 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 in her quarter-final.

Birrell’s triumph came‍ as the Adelaide title defense of American star Madison Keys was ended by rising​ Canadian Victoria Mboko.

The 19-year-old Mboko downed the reigning Australian Open champion 6-4, 4-6,⁣ 6-2.

Mboko,after last year rising⁢ from being ranked‌ below 300 to now being world No.17,will play Birrell‍ in the 27-year-old⁣ Australian’s first WTA semi-final.

birrell prevailed against‍ Cristian in a long and⁣ absorbing battle.

“Just the momentum shifts and how we both‌ fought,I think we both⁢ completely emptied our tanks,” Birrell,the world No.107, said.

“Honestly, ⁤it’s probably easier ‍to say⁤ after winning, but⁣ it’s one of ​the reasons I just love ⁤tennis so much ⁤– because it tests you physically and mentally.

“It wasn’t just about tennis out there today. It was about who ‍could fight ⁢and who could keep believing ⁣in themselves.

“I’m really proud ⁤of myself that I just kept doing that until the last⁣ point.”

Birrell said the physical nature of the⁤ clash‍ took a toll, despite the mild temperatures of around ​20 degrees.

“Just the length of some of ‌the ⁣points that⁢ we had, had‌ the lactic ⁣acid pumping,” she said.

“I’m⁢ not sure⁣ what would have happened if I had to keep⁣ playing ‍that last game; I really needed that‍ last point as I could really ‍feel my​ right quad starting to cramp.

“I told myself that I’m an Aussie ​- I can’t cramp under ⁤30 degrees.”
– AAP

roger returns to Melbourne Park,reflects on the Sinner v Alcaraz rivalry

Six-time Australian Open champion Roger Federer returned to Melbourne​ Park on‌ Thursday afternoon and spoke⁣ with​ media ahead of ⁢the‌ tournament’s opening⁢ ceremony – marking his first time back in Melbourne as ⁤2020.

Federer – who coined the term “Happy Slam” for the Australian Open – said he was happy to return and ⁢was excited to play in the “Battle of the World ‌No.1s” on Saturday night, joining Andre Agassi and Australian legends Patrick Rafter and‍ Lleyton Hewitt for a‍ star-studded match.