Former top 100 player James Duckworth has secured a place in next months Australian Open after winning the national play-off tournament in Melbourne.
The 26-year-old outlasted compatriot Luke Saville 6-3, 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(2), in a closely fought match. Saville knocked out top seed Alex Bolt in the semi-finals of the tournament. Duckworth’s reward is a place in the main draw of the Melbourne major for the seventh time in his career and first since 2017.
“I thought today, probably until those last couple of games when I was pretty nervous, was probably the cleanest I’d hit the ball and the most comfortable and confident I’d felt on the court, which I was pleased about,” Duckworth said following his win.
Duckworth’s triumph comes after what has been a turbulent past two years for him. Since his last appearance at the Australian Open, he has had to undergo five surgeries and dropped outside the top 1000 earlier this year. Last year, he could only play in two tournaments due to injury. Within a 13-month period, he underwent three foot surgeries, as well as operations on his shoulder and elbow.
“There were definitely times over the last few years when I thought maybe I’d never play tennis again, let alone the Australian Open,” he reflected.
“It was tough sitting on the sidelines and going through so much rehab and spending so much time on the operating table as well. So to be able to get back is just a dream come true.
“I’ve obviously been through a lot over the last couple of years and to be able to play my home Grand Slam again – which in my opinion is the best tournament in the world, the support you get here is incredible – is just an unbelievable feeling.”
On the rise once again, Duckworth is currently ranked 244th in the world. This season he has achieved a win-loss record of 15-12. In September he won his first title since undergoing multiple surgeries at the ATP Cary Open. A Challenger tournament in America.
Looking ahead to the upcoming grand slam, Duckworth will be bidding to win his fourth main draw match at the event. He has previously reached the second round of the Australian Open in 2012, 2013 and 2015.
Birrell caps off dream week
In the women’s tournament, world No.288 Kimberly Birrell clinched the wildcard without dropping a single set all week.
Birrell, who last played at the Australian Open in 2016, breezed past Astra Shama 6-4, 6-2. The 20-year-old also knocked out third seed Jaimee Fourlis and second seed Ellen Perez on route to the final.
“So many mixed emotions – I think it all kind of hit me in the end, because I knew she was going to put up a fight until the very last point until we shook hands,” Birrell said.
“So happy, and just so much joy, and maybe a little bit of relief too. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity and I’m so glad that I was able to take it.”
German-born Birrell has won two titles on the ITF Tour, including the $60,000 Darwin Open this year. She is yet to crack the top 200. Her most significant result on the WTA Tour occurred on the doubles tour. At the 2016 Hobart International she finished runner-up alongside Jarmila Wolfe.
Similar to Duckworth, Birrell has also endured her fair share of injury issues despite her young age. Shoulder surgery in 2016 sidelined her from action for 11 months before she made a steady return.
“It really helps having been through the whole experience before. I played juniors, I’ve been around the environment. It’s not gonna be anything new. And during that Australian Open (in 2016) I played on Hisense Arena, one of the biggest courts in the world. I’m definitely gonna draw on that experience, for sure.” She said.
“I’ve learned so much since then. It’s only been two years but it feels like kind of a lifetime ago because I’ve been through so much since then – coming off a surgery, and kind of almost starting from scratch.
“I feel like I’ve just played so much more tennis since then; my body is completely different to what it was back then. I have so much more faith in myself, and that I can back up match after match and compete against the top girls.”
The Australian Open will get underway on January 14th.
