Qualifying: great start for Aussie women

Destanee Aiava, Arina Rodionova and Lizette Cabrera were all winners on Wednesday at Roehampton to take one step closer to the Wimbledon main draw.

London, UK, 29 June 2017 | Matt Trollope

Destanee Aiava cruised past Freya Christie and into the second round of Wimbledon qualifying.

There she was joined by Arina Rodionova, who wrested control of the second set against Nina Stojanovic to advance in straight sets.

Later on Wednesday, Lizette Cabrera made it a perfect three-from-three for Australia with an impressive win over Czech Tereza Smitkova.

Aussie women doing well! @destaneeaiava, @lizzycabrera97 and @arinarodionova all win the first set at @Wimbledon qualifying #GoAussies pic.twitter.com/RAGJ9wmxX3

— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) June 28, 2017

Aiava, broken in the opening game by the Brit, recovered to win 12 of the next 14 games in a 6-3 6-0 thumping.

“I started a bit shaky but as the match progressed I started to find my rhythm and felt really confident,” said the 17-year-old from Melbourne.

“Yeah I think (my game) does (suit grass). Haven’t really practised much on it back home but I’m finding the grass really enoyable to play on. Yeah, I like it.”

Aiava arrived in London having contested qualifying at the WTA Nottingham tournament and an ITF event in Ilkley. She won a round at each yet failed to qualify for either main draw.

Her power game does seem tailor made to the lawns, however; her strong serve helped her establish the immediate ascendency in points and her forehand was a potent weapon against the Brit.

Aiava raced through the second set – smacking a forehand winner to close out victory in a tidy 62 minutes – and will next face either Brit Maia Lumsden or Czech Barbora Krejcikova.

Rodionova will take on the winner of the match between former world No.15 Kaia Kanepi and Dutchwoman Lesley Kerkhove after sealing a 6-3 6-4 win over Stojanovic.

Rodionova trailed by a break at 1-3 in the second set before winning five of the next six games to claim victory, watched on by sister Anastasia from the side of the court.

Cabrera makes it a perfect day for Aussie women

Queensland’s Cabrera closed out a 6-2 4-6 6-2 win over Tereza Smitkova in style, smacking a forehand winner on the stretch up the line to gain match point, and then another winner to end the contest.

Queenslander @lizzycabrera97 makes it a perfect 3-from-3 for the Aussies on Wednesday – she beats Smitkova 6-2 4-6 6-2! #GoAussies pic.twitter.com/qMFi1dafH2

— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) June 28, 2017

“It feels really good. Obviously I missed out at the French (in the wildcard playoff) so I was really looking forward to Wimbledon and I just had to keep my nerves under control, which I did today, and I’m really happy with the win,” Cabrera said.

“I thought I executed the plan really well; I knew she’d come out and hit a few winners and stuff, but I also knew she was quite loose, so just executed the plan and it worked perfectly.”

Indeed, Smitkova was a dangerous opponent, a former world No.57 who’d reached the fourth round at Wimbledon as a qualifier.

Yet Cabrera controlled the bulk of the match with intelligent serving, a venomous forehand and a patient approach.

“I though I served pretty well; I kept my first-serve percentage up which was nice and always helps me with winning matches,” she said.

“I was just really confident with my forehand, and I think that played a huge role today (especially) on those last two points.

“I love grass; I’d say it’s one of my favourite surfaces. I think it suits my game really well.”