Marsel crashes out of Australian Open

MELBOURNE

İlhan could not stop a comeback by Delic in the Australian Open qualifiers. AA photo

Marsel İlhan missed out on a chance to play in the Australian Open after losing to Amir Delic 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the first qualifying round yesterday.

Turkey’s top-ranked player was aiming to play in the Australian Open for the third time in his career, but he could not overcome a stiff challenge by the Bosnian player.

İlhan won the first set, but Delic quickly recovered and rallied to win the next two sets 6-3 and 6-2 to advance to the next stage of the three-round qualifiers.

İlhan was coming to the game as a favorite, since he is ranked 113th in the ATP world rankings, while Delic is 209th. The 24-year-old player, who is the first Turkish player to play in all four Grand Slam events, was also the fourth-ranked player in the qualifying round, where 128 players compete.

Çağla Büyükakçay, Turkey’s top-ranked women’s singles tennis player, will start her qualifying campaign against Reka-Luca Jani of Hungary today in a bid to make her first appearance at a Grand Slam event.
If Çağla, ranked 217th in WTA rankings, can beat her opponent, she is likely to meet one of the toughest match-ups in the next round.

Uzbekistan’s Akgul Ananmuradova, 114th in the world rankings and second-seed player in the qualifiers, will play against Madalina Gojnea of Romania, and if she wins will play the winner of the Büyükakçay-Jani tie.

In other men’s qualifying games yesterday, former ITF junior world No.1 Ricardas Berankis overcame windy conditions to record, while former Melbourne Park finalist Arnaud Clement crashed out in his first match.

Berankis, the No.13 seed in the draw, defeated Fabrice Martin of France 6-4, 6-4.

For 34-year-old French Clement, the news was not so good as he was beaten by Bjorn Phau 7-5, 6-2.