Jason Kubler has hot-footed it to Spain from England, hoping to make use of his first grass-court title because the springboard to a different profitable assault on Wimbledon.
Fresh from profitable the Ilkley Trophy in Yorkshire, Kubler has jetted out to hitch a bunch of his fellow Australian hopefuls on the Spanish island of Mallorca for his or her final warm-up match earlier than Wimbledon.
One of them, Chris O’Connell, a latest quarter-finalist in Stuttgart, did not final lengthy in Sunday’s opening spherical, being overwhelmed by Frenchman Corentin Moutet 7-5 6-4.
Kubler, buoyed to make his breakthrough triumph at a smaller second-tier Challenger occasion in Ilkley on Saturday, will take his Mallorca bow towards one other Frenchman Constant Lestienne on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old from Brisbane, who beat in-form Austrian Sebastian Ofner, the match’s prime seed, 6-4 6-4 within the Ilkley closing, feels prepared for an additional good run at Wimbledon after reaching the last-16 there final 12 months.
“It feels special, a first grass-court title,” stated Kubler.
“To get a lot of matches going into Wimbledon has been the main goal and getting the wins here has made it a bit more special.
“Leading into Wimbledon, I’m positively feeling comfy on the floor, and hopefully I can maintain taking part in good tennis.”
Kubler, the former world junior No.1, has enjoyed a second straight impressive season after years of injury woes, and will jump more than 20 places in the rankings to No.74 after his first tournament win in 2023.
Even without Nick Kyrgios, who had also been due to compete on the Spanish island but pulled out with continuing concerns over a knee problem that threatens his Wimbledon participation, the Aussie challenge in Mallorca is strong.
Max Purcell, whose dramatic rise this year now makes him the national No.3 behind Kyrgios and Queen’s finalist Alex de Minaur, will play 41-year old Spanish luminary Feliciano Lopez, who will be making the final home appearance of his career on his farewell tour.
On Monday, Sydney’s Jordan Thompson will continue his fine grass-court season against another veteran, Frenchman Richard Gasquet, while Adelaide’s Li Tu , a 27 year-old qualifier, will play lucky loser Pavel Kotov.
There was extra success for veteran Australian John Peers, who partnered by Brazil’s Marcelo Melo, received the doubles title in Halle on Sunday, beating Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 [10-6] within the closing.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
