Austria’s only participant in the Australian Open, Barbara Haas, will play a Chinese player at the start of the qualifying round. Roberta Vinci, Vera Zvonareva and Sara Errani are the stars in the tableau.
Celebrity crowd in the women’s qualification! It is the first time in the history of the Australian Open that three former Grand Slam finalists will have to make the qualifying round. Vera Zvonareva (Wimbledon/US Open 2010), Sara Errani (Roland Garros 2012) and Roberta Vinci (US Open 2015) will play for the coveted free places in the main draw starting Thursday.
Patty Schnyder is also competing in the qualifying round: Patty Schnyder. The 39-year-old Swiss has tried her hand at a major qualification for the second time since returning to the tour in 2015. Last year, the former number seven in the world failed Ysaline Bonaventure in Round Two of the US Open Qualification.
Barbara Haas, who two years ago in Flushing Meadows was the only time that she qualified for a Grand Slam main draw, will meet Yafan Wang from China. If the 21-year-old wins her opening match, there may be a duel with doping sinner Sara Errani.
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