Three Australian players, including Adam Walton, scored top-100 victories in qualifying at an ATP 250 tournament in Adelaide.
Adelaide, Australia, 7 January 2024 | Leigh Rogers
Australian contenders have made a sensational start in the Adelaide International men’s qualifying singles competition.
Three Aussies – Alex Bolt, Matthew Dellavedova and Adam Walton – scored top-100 wins in their opening-round matches today at The Drive.
The 31-year-old Bolt, who is currently ranked No.328 and snuck into the draw as an alternate, lost only four points on serve in a stunning 6-1 6-1 demolition of world No.78 Tomas Machac.
This is Bolt’s 17th career top-100 win – but first since September 2021.
The South Australian competitor will now play world No.456 Dellavedova in the final qualifying round at the ATP 250 tournament.
Dellavedova, a 23-year-old wildcard contesting his first ATP-level event, recorded his maiden top-100 victory with a 6-3 0-6 6-4 upset of world No.83 Juan Pablo Varillas.
The highest-ranked opponent that Dellavedova had previously beaten was the world No.223 (at last week’s ATP Challenger event in Canberra).
World No.169 Walton notched his career-first top-100 win too, defeating world No.70 Pedro Cachin 7-5 7-6(2) in their first-round clash.
This propels the 24-year-old Walton, who served five aces in the one-hour and 53-minute encounter, into a final round showdown with world No.80 Bernabe Zapata Miralles.
James McCabe, a promising 20-year-old Australian, is also through to the final qualifying round.
The world No.272, who was announced as an Australian Open wildcard recipient this week, posted a 6-1 6-4 victory against Mikalai Haliak.
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Aussies in action – Adelaide
TODAY’S RESULTS
Men’s qualifying singles, first round
Adam Walton (AUS) d [2] Pedro Cachin (ARG) 7-5 7-6(2)
James McCabe (AUS) d [Alt] Mikalai Haliak 6-1 6-4
[Alt] Alex Bolt (AUS) d [3] Tomas Machac (CZE) 6-1 6-1
[WC] Matthew Dellavedova (AUS) d [6] Juan Pablo Varillas (PER) 6-3 0-6 6-4
[4] Thiago Seyboth Wild (BRA) d [Alt] Luke Saville (AUS) 1-6 6-3 6-2
[5] Bernabe Zapata Miralles (ESP) d [Alt] Blake Ellis (AUS) 6-3 6-2
[8] Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) d [WC] Jacob Bradshaw (AUS) 6-3 6-4
COMING UP
Men’s qualifying singles, final round
Adam Walton (AUS) v [5] Bernabe Zapata Miralles (ESP)
James McCabe (AUS) v [8] Arthur Rinderknech (FRA)
[Alt] Alex Bolt (AUS) v [WC] Matthew Dellavedova…
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