TEENAGER Adam O’Shannessy has the opportunity to advance into the main draw, as Thirroul’s Blake Mott has the No.1 seeding, in the Illawarra’s best chance for a hometown triumph at the Wollongong International.
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O’Shannessy overpowered Queenslander Mitchell Robins at Beaton Park on Sunday, winning 7-5, 6-3, needing to beat Michael Shepheard to qualify for the ITF Futures tournament which starts on Tuesday.
The 16-year-old won 7-5, 6-3, but had to fight, after a 4-2 lead in the first set evaporated when he conceded three consecutive games.
“I felt like I played really smart tennis out there and I’m getting better every match I play. I’m really excited to be in the last round of qualifying,” O’Shannessy said.
The Wollongong charge continued with Ivan Goluza edging Blazo Djurovic 6-4, 6-4. Goluza meets Canberra’s Dimitri Morogiannis on Monday for a spot in the final draw.
American Patrick Davidson came through with the win, after playing a tough three setter, defeating fourth seed Matthew Dellavedova 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Mott has been confirmed as the No.1 seed, continuing his rise in the Australian tennis ranks.
Ranked 279 in the world, it’s just four places lower than his career high last month, after making the final of the Toowoomba and Cairns Futures tournaments.
It would be his second tour singles title this year, having won on Launceston and also picked up valuable experience on the US and Canada Challenger circuits.
US Open junior singles and doubles champion Omar Jasika is a late withdrawal, but there remains plenty of talent that have tasted success in Wollongong previously.
American Jamere Jenkins won the second week tournament two years ago, while New Zealander Finn Tearney, Maverick Banes and Gavin Peperzeel, who have all been part of doubles wins, will return.
Wollongong has held consecutive Futures tournaments in the past two years, but there will be just one champion this year, with the second week now moved to a new development at Blacktown. However, the Wollongong International now boasts US $25,000 in prizemoney.
Eight qualifiers will make up the final field of 32.
WOLLONGONG
INTERNATIONAL
ITF Australia Futures tournament (Prizemoney: US$25,000)
Wollongong Tennis Club, Beaton Park
Tuesday-Sunday
Men’s singles and doubles
Past winners
2015: Ben Mitchell
2014: Bryden Klein (Great Britain)
Doubles: Maverick Banes, Finn Tearney (2015); Steven De Waard, Marc Polmans (2014).
Week two
2015: Dayne Kelly
2014: Jamere Jenkins (US)
Doubles: Steven De Waard, Marc Polmans (2015); Maverick Banes, Gavin Peperzeel (2014).
Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
