Broady Sets Safiullin Clash In Australian Open Qualifying
Great Britain’s Liam Broady moved to within one win of making his main-draw debut at the Australian Open Thursday, downing American J.J. Wolf 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the final qualifying round in Melbourne.
The World No. 127, who has advanced to the second round at Wimbledon twice, broke Wolf three times to triumph after one hour and 56 minutes.
Broady will next face in-form Russian Roman Safiullin after the World No. 146 continued his strong start to the season with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 one-hour, 33-minute victory over 25-year-old Christopher Eubanks.
Safiullin earned vital singles victories against Arthur Rinderknech and James Duckworth at ATP Cup for Team Russia last week. The 24-year-old reached the second round as a qualifier at the Australian Open in 2021.
World No. 120 Taro Daniel cruised past Gian Marco Moroni 6-3, 6-1 in 77 minutes to book his place in the third qualifying round. The 28-year-old is bidding to make his fifth main draw appearance in Melbourne.
Daniel will next meet Salvatore Caruso after the Italian defeated World No. 236 Juan Pablo Ficovich 7-5, 7-6(5) after two hours and 10 minutes.
In other action, Australian Matthew Ebden beat Dominic Stricker 7-6(2), 6-2, while Norbert Gombos rallied from a break down in the final set, edging Renzo Olivo 6-0, 3-6, 7-6(6). Ebden will meet Gombos next.
Czech Tomas Machac overcame Yuki Bhambri 6-1, 6-3 and next plays Jesper De Jong after the 21-year-old saw off Australian Edward Winter 6-1, 6-2.