Bains eyeing main draw berth

6 January 2018, by Leigh Rogers

Australian Naiktha Bains is one win away from a place in the Hobart International main draw.

The 20-year-old upset 10th seed Ana Bogdan in qualifying today, scoring a hard-fought 7-6(4) 7-6(6) victory on Centre Court.

“I wasn’t expecting much today because I was pretty sick last night to be honest,” Bains said.

Overcoming a stomach bug to record her first WTA-level win in 18 months, Bains also reversed a comprehensive loss to Bogdan at the end of last season.

“It was her day that day, and today I didn’t think about that match,” the No.368-ranked Bains said.

“I was a bit more solid this time and made her play more balls.”

It is the second time Bains has reached the final qualifying round in Hobart, also achieving the feat as a 16-year-old in 2014.

“I don’t know why I play so well here. It’s just a beautiful place and I love being here,” Bains said.

“If I can qualify this time, that would be great.”

Other winners today include Israel’s Julia Glusko, a straight-sets winner over Frenchwoman Pauline Parmentier, and Serbian Nina Stojanovic, who beat Colombian Mariana Duque-Marino.

> See today’s results