SA tennis star Lloyd Harris qualifies for Australia Open

The 26-year-old showcased his skills on Friday by defeating fourth-seeded Hugo Gaston from France in a commanding fashion with a 6-0, 6-2 victory during the final qualifying match.

With this impressive performance, Harris has secured his place in the main draw of the season’s first Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne.

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In 2023, Kgothatso Montjane participated in the women’s doubles at both the Australia and French Open Grand Slam tournaments alongside her Japanese partner, Yui Kamiji winning both titles.  

This noteworthy collaboration reflects a positive trajectory for South African tennis, signaling that the sport is moving in the right direction.

At the beginning of the week, the Cape Town-born athlete emerged victorious in his initial two qualifying matches, defeating Kyrian Jacquet from France with a score of 7-5, 6-4, and securing a win against Daniel Rincon of Spain with a convincing score of 6-2, 6-2.  

Ranked 149th in the ATP world rankings at present, Harris is set to represent South Africa as the sole participant in the men’s singles event at the upcoming Australia Open.  

Having experienced a decline in his ATP ranking, failing beyond the top 100 due to an injury-induced break, Harris embarked on his Australia Open journey by taking on Frenchman Quentin Halys, who currently holds the 101st position in the world rankings.  

The first-round match between Harris and Halys, scheduled for Sunday when the main draw commences, marks the first encounter between these two players on the ATP Tour.