West Australian Maddison Inglis has enjoyed her finest on-court moment on the same day her childhood idol extended her singles career.
The 24-year-old wildcard produced a career-best performance to defeat 24th-ranked US Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez 6-4 6-2 in one of the biggest upsets so far this week.
Inglis squealed with delight as one last Fernandez forehand sailed beyond the baseline to deliver her maiden grand slam main draw win on her fifth attempt.
Her victory came hours after Australian great and 2011 US Open champion Sam Stosur postponed retirement with a remarkable three-set win against the odds.
Fernandez’s radar on her forehand, in particular, was off for much of the match, but Inglis deserves plenty of credit for her willingness to attack the lines and often change direction in rally exchanges.
That aggressive approach not only saw her hit more winners than Fernandez (14-8) but also forced numerous errors.
Inglis reeled off 14 of the first 15 points in the second set to break the match wide open.
She was soon 4-0 up, but had to survive break points in both of her final two service games before completing the job on her third match point.
Inglis has sat on the fringes of the top 100 for the past couple of years – and is currently No.133 – without being able to make a significant breakthrough.
Inglis’ best scalp before Fernandez was Alison Uytvanck three years ago when the Belgian was the world No.63, while she also beat current top-10 star Paula Badosa when she was ranked 97th.
NO LUCK FOR DASCHA
Daria Saville’s comeback tour will need to take off overseas after she exited the Australian Open in straight sets in the first round on Tuesday.
The former top-20 star, now ranked No.426, is mere matches into her return from Achilles surgery after last year’s Open and found Swede Rebecca Peterson too great of a hurdle to overcome.
Saville (nee Gavrilova) was her typical energetic self from the outset and her effort was never lacking, but her frustration began to show towards the end of her 6-2 6-3 defeat to the world No.82.
“Just need to get back on the practice court and get better. Get more matches under my belt,” she posted on social media after the loss.
“But I’m glad that I’m playing again competitively and my feet are collaborating with me.”
She was always playing catch up after droppinxjmtzywg the opening four games of the match.
In another Aussie loss, Queenslander Priscilla Hon was also unable to repeat her Adelaide heroics, going down 6-2 6-3 to Czech 31st seed Marketa Vondrousova.
Hon upset Vondrousova’s countrywoman and dual Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova two weeks ago in Adelaide, in a performance that earned her a wildcard.
Saville’s summer ends without a main draw win from three tries but she did qualify in Adelaide and will be better for the match practice after playing just once last year after the Australian Open.
Scans after competing at Melbourne Park last year revealed a Haglund’s bump, which forms on the back of the heel bone, had swollen considerably and was rubbing on and causing severe pain in her right Achilles tendon.
Saville was also still dealing with Enthesopathy, which, in simple terms, is damage to the connective tissues between the bone and tendons.
Surgery was necessary after several years of Achilles pain and setbacks.
After months of rehabilitation, Saville made a winning return in November at the Billie Jean King Cup.
