Melbourne, Jan 22 (.) Maddison Inglis marked a stirring return to the Australian Open main draw after four years, producing a gutsy performance to reach the third round of her home Grand Slam and underline her belief that she belongs at the highest level.
Playing before the home fans on ANZ Arena, Inglis overcame world No.48 Laura Siegemund of Germany in a gripping three-set contest, winning 6-4, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (10-7) after nearly three hours of intense tennis.
Ranked more than 100 places below her opponent, Inglis absorbed pressure throughout a match that swung repeatedly on serve and was ultimately decided by two tie-breaks. The home fans played a significant role, lifting the local favourite during key moments, particularly in the deciding set.
Inglis struck 35 winners and forced 28 errors from Siegemund, maintaining an aggressive mindset while refusing to be distracted by the scoreboard. Her composure in decisive moments proved crucial, especially after she fell 4-2 behind in the final set before reeling off three consecutive games to force the 10-point match tie-break.
The victory marked only Inglis’s second career win over a top-50 opponent. Her previous such success came against world No.24 Leylah Fernandez at the Australian Open in 2022, the only other occasion she had reached the third round at Melbourne Park.
The result capped a memorable run for the Perth-born player, who began her campaign with a marathon three-hour first-round win over close friend and fellow Australian Kimberly Birrell, her first Grand Slam main-draw victory since 2022.
Reflecting on her journey, Inglis said the four-year gap between Australian Open main-draw appearances had strengthened her resolve. “Tennis is brutal. You have some incredible moments and some really hard ones,” she said. “To be back in a Grand Slam in Melbourne, with my family here, is so special.”
Inglis will next face a major challenge against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who advanced after defeating Sorana Cirstea in three sets.
Before that singles clash, Inglis is also set to feature in mixed doubles, partnering her fiancé Jason Kubler against Britain’s Lloyd Glasspool and Slovak Tereza Mihalikova.
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