Daria Saville storms past Czech teen Linda Fruhvirtova to qualify at a WTA 500 hard-court tournament in San Diego.
San Diego, USA, 26 February 2024 | Leigh Rogers
San Diego, USA
Daria Saville has secured a main-draw spot at a WTA 500 tournament in San Diego.
The 29-year-old Australian completed a successful qualifying campaign with a 6-4 6-1 victory against Czech Linda Fruhvirtova.
Saville needed only 83 minutes to defeat the highly touted 18-year-old, whose ranking peaked at world No.49 last year.
It marks the third time that world No.148 Saville has qualified at a tour-level event since returning from knee surgery in June 2023.
The former world No.20 will now face China’s Zhu Lin in the opening round. Saville defeated world No.58 Zhu during her semifinal run in Hobart last month.
Taylah Preston is also competing in San Diego this week. The 18-year-old from Perth, a wildcard entry, plays Poland’s Magdalena Frech in the first round.
Aussies in action – San Diego
RESULTS
Women’s qualifying singles, final round
[10] Daria Saville (AUS) d [6] Linda Fruhvirtova (CZE) 6-4 6-1
COMING UP
Women’s singles, first round
[Q] Daria Saville (AUS) v Zhu Lin (CHN)
[WC] Taylah Preston v Magdalena Frech (POL)
Women’s doubles, first round
[2] Storm Hunter (AUS)/Katerina Siniakova (CZE) v Miriam Kolodziejova (CZE)/Katarzyna Piter (POL)
[3] Ellen Perez (AUS)/Nicole Melichar-Martinez (USA) v Donna Vekic (CRO)/Zhu Lin (CHN)
Daria Saville (AUS)/Anna Blinkova v [4] Chan Hao-Ching (TPE)/Giuliana Olmos (MEX)
Austin, USA
Olivia Gadecki has qualified at a WTA 250 tournament in Austin.
The 21-year-old was leading 7-5 2-0 when her American opponent Shelby Rogers, a former world No.30, was forced to retire with a knee injury.
It is the fifth time that world No.143 Gadecki has qualified at a tour-level tournament in her young career.
Gadecki, who joins compatriot Arina Rodionova in the main draw, has been handed a tough first-round assignment. She will face American Danielle Collins, the Australian Open 2022 finalist and the tournament’s third seed.
Aussies in action – Austin
RESULTS
Women’s qualifying singles, final round
[7] Olivia Gadecki (AUS) d Shelby Rogers (USA) 7-5 2-0 ret.
COMING UP
Women’s singles, first round
Arina Rodionova (AUS) v [8] Yuan Yue (CHN)
[Q] Olivia Gadecki (AUS) v [3] Danielle Collins (USA)
Women’s doubles, first round
Olivia Gadecki (AUS)/Olivia Nicholls (GBR) v Danielle Collins (USA)/Fernanda Contreras (MEX)
[WC]…
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