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New Haven, CT, USA, 27 August 2017 | AAP

Australian tennis star Daria Gavrilova has claimed her maiden WTA Tour title with a rollercoaster three-set win over one-time Grand Slam finalist Dominika Cibulkova.

Gavrilova recovered from a set down to upset the tournament’s second seed 4-6 6-3 6-4 in a thrilling two-hour, 45-minute Connecticut Open final.

The watershed win lifts the 22-year-old into the world’s top 20 for the first time in a major boost ahead of the US Open starting on Monday.

Melbourne & Olympic Parks, Olympic Blvd, Melbourne VIC • 3001, Australia, 26 August 2017 | AAP

Daria Gavrilova has upset top-seeded titleholder Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets to surge into the Connecticut Open final.

In a huge US Open morale booster, Gavrilova outclassed the former world No.2 and Wimbledon finalist 6-4 6-4 to set up a title showdown with 2016 season-ending championship winner Dominika Cibulkova.

Gavrilova is chasing her maiden WTA Tour title after losing the final in Strasbourg in May to fellow Australian Samantha Stosur.

Flushing Meadow - Corona Park, Flushing, NY 11368, United States, 26 August 2017 | AAP

Nick Kyrgios’ bid for a maiden grand slam title at the US Open will kick off against compatriot John Millman.

The No.14 seed, who lost the Cincinnati Masters final to Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov last week, was drawn to face the Queenslander in next week’s opening round. Kyrgios then faces a potential fourth round clash against five-time champion and third seed Roger Federer.

Both players find themselves on the same side of the draw as world No.1 Rafael Nadal, with a mouth-watering semifinal looming as a possibility.

25 August 2017 | Tennis Australia

Experienced sports administrator Joe Kelly has been appointed Indigenous Program Manager for Tennis NT, continuing his passion to further develop the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians.

Kelly was appointed to the role in June following a nationwide search by Tennis NT and Tennis Australia.

Based in Darwin, Kelly will work with remote communities throughout the Northern Territory to develop tennis programs and pathways for Indigenous Australians.

Melbourne VIC, Australia, 25 August 2017 | tennis.com.au

Women

Grand Slam – US Open

WTA

New York, NY, USA, 25 August 2017 | tennis.com.au

Australians John-Patrick Smith and Akira Santillan are each just one win away from the US Open main draw after scoring second-round qualifying wins on Thursday in New York.

Smith, who also qualified for the tournament in 2015, beat 12th seed Filip Krajinovic 6-4 6-4, and will take on American Mitchell Krueger at the last hurdle.

DRAW: US Open men’s qualifying singles

New Haven, CT, USA, 25 August 2017 | AAP

Australia’s women’s No.1 Daria Gavrilova has continued her US Open preparations with a straight-sets win over Kirsten Flipkens at the Connecticut Open.

Gavrilova beat the world No.76 6-2 6-4 for a first career victory over Belgium’s Flipkens, who had won the pair’s only previous meeting.

The Melbourne-based Australian will next face the winner of the match world No.10 Agnieszka Radwanksa – the tournament’s top seed and defending champion – and China’s Peng Shuai.

New York, NY, USA, 24 August 2017 | tennis.com.au

Both of Australia’s women contesting US Open qualifying have won through to the second round of the draw at Flushing Meadows.

Teenagers Destanee Aiava and Lizette Cabrera advanced in contrasting circumstances to join the more experienced John-Patrick Smith as Aussie winners on Wednesday.

DRAW: men’s singles qualifying