Women’s tennis in Australia had come to a standstill ever since the retirement of Ash Barty. The Australian retired from the sport at the early age of 26. During her short yet successful career, she won all the grand slams once except the US Open.
However, it looks like Australia’s women’s tennis has found some level of revival this year in Wimbledon 2022. Astra Sharma, Zoe Hives, Jaimee Fourlis, and Maddison Inglis qualified for Wimbledon. It was the best qualifying day for Australia with four women going to the main event.
Strength in numbers 🙌
For the first time since 1983, four Australian women have qualified for the main draw at #Wimbledon 🤩
Inglis, Hives, Fourlis and Sharma join Tomljanovic and Saville in this year’s ladies singles field! #GoAussies pic.twitter.com/jWgruumEXb
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) June 24, 2022
This is the first time since 1983 that four women have qualified from Australia for Wimbledon. These four players will join fellow Australians Ajla Tomljanovic and Daria Saville at the All England Club this year. With six women making it to the main draw, Australia might find its next Ash Barty.
Fifteen Australians to compete at Wimbledon 2022
Apart from four women, two Australian men also qualified for The Championships. Jason Kubler and Max Purcell both had a good qualifying event and managed to make it through to the main draw. With the two players qualifying, nine Aussie men will be part of the main draw this year.
The remaining seven players are Alex de Minaur, Nick Kyrgios, Jordan Thompson, James Duckworth, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Alexei Popyrin, and John Millman. With nine male players and six female players, fifteen Australians will be part of Wimbledon 2022.
What a great day at qualifying 4 the Aussies. 6 qualified for the Wimbledon main draw. That is the most since 1995 when there were 7. Into the main draw are Jason Kubler, Max Purcell, Astra Sharma, Jaimee Fourlis, Maddison Inglis & Zoe Hives who got w/o from Aussie Priscilla Hon
— Craig Gabriel (@crosscourt1) June 23, 2022
This is the biggest contingent participating from Australia in Wimbledon since 2015. Nick Kyrgios recently pulled out of a tournament due to an injury. Therefore, there is a slight worry regarding his participation at the All England Club.
Many Australians took to Twitter and expressed their joy on seeing the biggest contingent to go for Wimbledon from their country. Aussies will be hoping for one of these players to carry a series of upsets and eventually lift the trophy. While it looks highly unlikely, this is how legends are formed.