Australian No.1 Arina Rodionova sarcastically declared she gave Tennis Australia one thing to “celebrate” when she misplaced her opening spherical match in Australian Open qualifying after being snubbed for a wildcard into the match.
Now the top-ranked feminine within the nation has given TA extra meals for thought after making tennis historical past by changing into the oldest lady to make it into the world’s high 100 for the primary time aged 34.
A tough-fought three-set win on the Thailand Open in Hua Hin not solely secured Rodionova a quarter-final berth for the primary time since 2017 at a WTA occasion, it was additionally sufficient for her to crack the highest 100 for the primary time.
Rodionova is the one Australian lady inside the highest 100, with Kim Birrell subsequent finest at 124.
Storm Hunter, who was given a wildcard at Melbourne Park, went the deepest into the match, making the third spherical.
Rodionova, ranked 101, will provisional transfer to No.96 when the brand new rankings come out after her Thailand run and may very well be on the verge of the highest 70 ought to she win the match.
It’s a large rise for the Russian-born Melburnian, who firstly of 2023 was ranked solely 302nd.
“The only regrets I have from today is just I gave Tennis Australia something to celebrate,” Rodionova mentioned defiantly after her first-round qualifying loss in Melbourne.
“I think they are very pleased with my result today and that’s what makes me upset.”
The Thailand occasion is Rodionova’s first since lacking qualifying in Melbourne and she’s going to play China’s Lin Zhu within the quarter-finals.
Source: www.news.com.au
