West Australian teenager Talia Gibson’s profession has taken a large step after she was given a primary draw wildcard entry into subsequent 12 months’s Australian Open.
Gibson, 18, started the 12 months ranked exterior the highest 1000 however has soared into no. 342 on the earth after successful three ITF trophies in 2022.
Earlier this month Gibson was awarded the Female Junior Athlete of the Year on the Australian Tennis Awards.
“It feels amazing, I feel very honoured and grateful to receive a wildcard into the main draw of a Grand Slam for the first time,” Gibson mentioned.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play in a Slam and it’s such a special feeling to know that I’ve been given an opportunity to do this in my home country at the Australian Open.
“The wildcard means so much to me and my development because I feel that the work my coach and I have put into developing my game throughout the year has been recognised.”
Fellow West Australian Storm Hunter (nee Sanders) additionally obtained a wildcard entry as she seems for her first win on the Australian Open in her fifth try.
Hunter, 28, nearly precipitated the upset of final 12 months’s Australian Open when she led No.2 seed Aryna Sabalenka by a set and a break at Rod Laver Arena earlier than dropping in three units.
“I’m super excited to receive a wildcard into the Australian Open,” mentioned Hunter.
“Thank you to the Tennis Australia team for this amazing opportunity. I’m incredibly grateful to have the chance to play at home and want to continue playing at the level I was able to play at during the Billie Jean King Cup.”
Maddison Inglis must wait to see if she will be able to get a wildcard entry after she slipped to no.179 on the earth.
Inglis, 24, surprised the world when she stormed to the spherical of 32 eventually 12 months’s Australian Open and he or she got here near cracking the highest 100 for the primary time, however her type fell away because the 12 months went on and he or she is now no certainty to achieve entry to the Grand Slam.
