Maddy Inglis has celebrated her 22nd birthday in style, claiming an epic third set tiebreak victory in Australian Open qualifying at Melbourne Park.
Inglis overcame the hazardous smokey conditions, which delayed the start of play on the opening day of qualifying, and a determined opponent to seal the memorable 6-3 0-6 7-6 (17) win over Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova.
The West Australian has booked a second round clash against Canadian Eugenie Bouchard as she moves within two wins of a place in the main draw at next week’s Australian Open.
Inglis won the first set after twice breaking Sramkova’s serve but was immediately on the back foot in the second as her opponent levelled the match in dominant fashion.
Inglis was broken a number of times in the deciding set but fought back to force a tiebreak.
She was down 8-4 in the super tiebreak and had to save four match points before closing it out with her ninth ace on her sixth match point.
Earlier on court 8, Matt Ebden, in only his second match since September, went down 7-5 6-4 to Italian Gianluca Mager.
Storm Sanders is the fifth match due on court 8 on Wednesday, taking on American Robin Anderson.