Turks see off Thai duo in qualifiers

MELBOURNE

Marsel İlhan is just one win away from Australian Open first round.

Turkish players Marsel İlhan and Çağla Büyükakçay beat their Thai opponents yesterday to close in on qualifying for the Australian Open.

İlhan rallied to beat Danai Udomchoke in three sets yesterday in the second qualifying round of the men’s singles.

Büyükakçay also needed three sets to beat Tamarine Tanasugarn in the first qualifying round of the women’s singles competition.

İlhan, a two-time qualifier for the Australian Open, needs to overcome Belgian Ruben Remelmans in tomorrow’s third round game to qualify for the first Grand Slam of the year.

Büyükakçay will meet Lyudmila Kichenok of Ukraine today in the second round.