Luksika sets up Open date with Larsson
Luksika Kumkhum defeated former French Open finalist Sara Errani 6-4, 6-1 in the last round of qualifying to book her place in the main draw of the Australian Open, which starts today in Melbourne.
The Thai world No.125 Luksika faces the 80th-ranked Johanna Larsson of Sweden in the first round today.
They will play the third match on Court 14. Action starts at 7am Thai time.
It will be the 24-year-old Thai’s fourth appearance at the season’s first Grand Slam tournament. She reached the second round in 2013 and 2014 and lost in the first round last year.
The 30-year-old Errani, who was ranked as high as No.5 in 2013, is currently No.144 in the world.
Errani lost to Russia’s Maria Sharapova in the final of the French Open in 2012 and reached the semi-finals of the US Open that same year. The Italian has won nine WTA titles.
Meanwhile Bernard Tomic’s troubles have continued into 2018 with a loss in the third qualifying round yesterday.
The 25-year-old lost 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 to Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego yesterday.
It will be the first time in 10 years that Tomic will miss his national championship, where he has a 17-9 win-loss record.
Tomic appeared crushed by the defeat and snapped sarcastically at reporters when asked where he would go from there.
“I just count money, that’s all I do. I count my millions,” he said. “You go do what I did [on court]. Bye bye.”
Tomic lost in the third round last year and in the fourth round in 2016, the year he reached a career-high No.17 ranking.