MELBOURNE: Qualifying Katie Volynets ninth seed stunned Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 2-6 6-2 Thursday to burst into the australian open third round and continue the strong start of the American players in the opening Grand Slam of the year.
Just her sixth appearance in the main draw at a Grand Slam, the world number 113 is the first American qualifier to reach the women’s singles third round at Melbourne Park since three-time winner Lindsay Davenport in 1993.
The 21-year-old got ‘chills’ after picking up the biggest win of her career in her first game against a top 10 player.
“Suddenly you get match point and it’s like ‘wow, I’ve got match point against the ninth seed,'” Volynets said during his on-court interview. “You just start going there and let whatever happens happen.
“I’ve never played in such a crowded stadium and so many people keeping the energy for me. It’s great.”
The Volynets win comes a day after fellow American Mackenzie McDonald sent champion Rafa Nadal crashing and Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe all picked up wins.
The Volynets will then face Chinese Zhang Shuai or Croatian Petra Martic for a place in the fourth round.
Just her sixth appearance in the main draw at a Grand Slam, the world number 113 is the first American qualifier to reach the women’s singles third round at Melbourne Park since three-time winner Lindsay Davenport in 1993.
The 21-year-old got ‘chills’ after picking up the biggest win of her career in her first game against a top 10 player.
“Suddenly you get match point and it’s like ‘wow, I’ve got match point against the ninth seed,'” Volynets said during his on-court interview. “You just start going there and let whatever happens happen.
“I’ve never played in such a crowded stadium and so many people keeping the energy for me. It’s great.”
The Volynets win comes a day after fellow American Mackenzie McDonald sent champion Rafa Nadal crashing and Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys and Frances Tiafoe all picked up wins.
The Volynets will then face Chinese Zhang Shuai or Croatian Petra Martic for a place in the fourth round.
