The taste of WTA life was brief for Australia’s quartet of Hobart International qualifying wildcards but the four will leave their first tournament experience with an understanding of what it takes to reach the next level.
Seventeen-year-old pair Lily Fairclough and Zara Larke, Emerson Jones (14), and Lily Taylor (16) are the future of the sport in the country and were given the opportunity to test themselves against hardened WTA players on Saturday.
All featured on centre court at the Domain Tennis Centre but were unable to cause the boilovers the local fans were craving as action returned for the first time since 2020.
Larke was the first to step out against ninth seed Tamara Zidansek, lasting an hour before she went down 6-0 6-1 to the world No. 85 who boasts one WTA title to her name from Lausanne in 2021.
Taylor followed in her clash with 10th seed Xinyu Wang, matching her Chinese opponent early as the pair were locked at 2-2 apiece in the first set.
However when Taylor was broken to love it opened the floodgates as Wang’s power overwhelmed the youngster, losing 10 of the final 11 games to go down 6-2, 6-1 in 55 minutes.
Fairclough was the third Aussie to take centre stage against Hungarian Panna Udvardy, but it was a similar result for the WA native as she lost 6-1, 6-1 before Jones, the country’s second highest ranked ITF junior, took five games off Czech Tereza Martincova in a 6-3, 6-2 defeat.
There were several tough contests as the heat rose throughout the afternoon, with Kateryna Baindl edging past Viktorija Golubic 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in two hours and 12 minutes while Spain’s Nuria Parrizas Diaz needed just under three hours to defeat Yue Yuan, coming from a set down to triumph 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Full results and Sunday’s order of play can be found here, where the six winners in round two of qualifying will move into the main draw start Monday.
There was also a hive of activity off the court on the first day of the free weekend.
The tournament ball kids were presented their hats from American Claire Liu, while the grounds were abuzz with activity as fans soaked up the sun and took part in numerous activities scattered around behind centre court.
Claire Liu presented Hobart International 2023 Ball Kids with their hats before play got underway
Sunday is again open to the general public, giving the entire community a taste of what they can expect during the week. Kids go free* for the entire week of the tournament with any paying adult.
While the tennis will light up the courts at Domain Tennis Centre, the event will also feature a range of activities, performances and initiatives. These include:
- Free Qualifying Weekend – Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 January
- Opening Round – Monday 9 January
- A celebration of Women – Wednesday 11 January
- Inspired Women’s Event hosted at Government House featuring Daria Saville (Australian Tennis star) and Libby Minogue (Chief Marketing Officer, Virgin Australia Airlines)
- Women and Girls to the front, placing women and girls in key roles such as the Officials on court and Ballkids to name a few
- A celebration of First Nations – Thursday 12 January
- A celebration of Pride – Friday 13 January
- Hobart Out Tennis Tournament starts and runs through to Sunday 15 January
- Maddy Jane performances (local Tasmanian musician out of Bruny Island) – Friday 13 January and Saturday 14 January
- Maggie and Sophie Cunningham to present the Angie Cunningham Trophy to the winner in honour of their late mother – Saturday 14 January
Tickets for the Hobart International are on sale via Ticketmaster.
Prices start from $25 for adults and general admission is free* for children with a paying adult during the entire event, including finals.
Hobart International 2023 by the numbers
- Three former Hobart International singles champions: Alize Cornet (2016), Elise Mertens (2017, 2018), Sofia Kenin (2019)
- Seven current top-50 players: Marie Bouzkova (No. 24), Elise Mertens (No.29), Alize Cornet (No. 36), Sloane Stephens (No. 37), Bernarda Pera (No.43), Anhelina Kalinina (No. 47), Magda Linette (No. 48)
- Nine players who achieved career-high rankings in 2022: Marie Bouzkova, Bernarda Pera, Anhelina Kalinina, Mayar Sherif, Lucia Bronzetti, Claire Liu, Jasmine Paolini, Zhu Lin, Elisabetta Cocciaretto
- Six players who won WTA singles titles in 2022: Marie Bouzkova, Elise Mertens, Bernarda Pera, Mayar Sherif, Sloane Stephens, Tatjana Maria
- One player who made a Grand Slam semifinal in 2022: Tatjana Maria (Wimbledon)
- Three players who made Grand Slam singles quarterfinals in 2022: Alize Cornet (Australian Open), Marie Bouzkova (Wimbledon), Sloane Stephens (Roland Garros)
- Seven returning players from last event in 2020: Marie Bouzkova, Alize Cornet, Elise Mertens, Magda Linette, Alison Van Uytvanck, Zhu Lin, Madison Brengle