Australian Tristan Schoolkate qualifies at an ATP tournament for the first time in his career at a grass-court event in the Netherlands.
‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, 10 June 2024 | Leigh Rogers
‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
Tristan Schoolkate is proving why grass is his favourite playing surface at an ATP 250 tournament at ‘s-Hertogenbosch this week.
The 23-year-old Australian, who grew up playing on grass courts in Perth, is competing at a tour-level grass-court tournament for the first time in his career and is already having a major impact.
The world No.186 has defeated two higher-ranked opponents to qualify at an ATP tournament for the first time, securing his main-draw spot with a confident 6-2 6-3 victory against Belgium’s Zizou Bergs in the final qualifying round.
Schoolkate conceded only 15 points on serve and saved all four break points he faced in the 67-minute encounter. At world No.104, Bergs is the highest-ranked opponent that Schoolkate has beaten.
> READ: Train with Tristan Schoolkate – “You’ve got to work very hard”
The fast-rising Aussie, a winner in 11 of his past 14 matches, now turns his attention to a first-round meeting with American Sebastian Korda.
Schoolkate’s successful qualifying campaign boosts the number of Aussie representatives in the men’s singles draw to seven.
Aussies in action – ‘s-Hertogenbosch
RESULTS
Men’s qualifying singles, final round
Tristan Schoolkate (AUS) d [3] Zizou Bergs (BEL) 6-2 6-3
Women’s qualifying singles, final round
[5] Jessika Ponchet (FRA) d [4] Taylah Preston (AUS) 6-7(9) 7-6(5) 6-4
COMING UP
Men’s singles, first round
[1] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v Bye
[8] Jordan Thompson (AUS) v Milos Raonic (CAN)
Max Purcell (AUS) v Aleksandar Vukic (AUS)
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v Rinky Hijikata (AUS)
[Q] Tristan Schoolkate (AUS) v [7] Sebastian Korda (USA)
Women’s singles, first round
Arina Rodionova (AUS) v [3] Ekaterina Alexandrova
Men’s doubles, first round
[4] Max Purcell (AUS)/Jordan Thompson (AUS) v Ryan Seggerman (USA)/Patrik Trhac (USA)
John-Patrick Smith (AUS)/Andreas Mies (GER) v [3] Ivan Dodig (CRO)/Henry Patten (GBR)
[WC] Rinky Hijikata (AUS)/Mackenzie McDonald (USA) v Sebastian Korda (USA)/Tommy Paul (USA)
Nottingham, Great Britain
Kimberly Birrell has qualified at a WTA 250 grass-court tournament in Nottingham.
After losing only a single game in her opening match, the 26-year-old Australian continued her dominant run with a 6-2 6-2 victory…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Tennis.com.au – Tennis Australia…