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Four Aussies home in on French main draw

3 minute read

Four Australians - Marc Polmans, Aleksandar Vukic, Ellen Perez and Storm Sanders - are just a match away from qualifying for the main draw of the French Open.

MARC POLMANS.
MARC POLMANS. Picture: Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Marc Polmans has quickly taken revenge for a bit of Aussie-bashing by 16-year-old Arthur Fils as he knocked out the brilliant teenage home hope in qualifying for the French Open.

Polmans schooled the Parisian youngster, who'd knocked out Bernard Tomic on the opening day of qualifiers, 6-1 6-3 in 67 minutes to lead a parade of four Australians into the final round of qualifying at Roland Garros.

Along with Aleksandar Vukic, Ellen Perez and Storm Sanders, Melburnian Polmans will face a one-off contest on Thursday to land a hard-earned place in the main draw of the clay-court slam.

World No.149 Polmans did what Tomic was unable to achieve as he took the considerable weapons of young Fils in his stride, played with a solidity the youngster could not match as he sprayed around 43 unforced errors.

He'll next tackle the rising world No.128 Bernabe Zapata Miralles, who's in fine form, having recently won a Challenger tournament.

The performance of the day came from powerful Sydneysider Vukic, the world No.209 coming from a set down to beat former world No.12 Viktor Troicki 3-6 6-2 6-4 with the helping of 29 blistering winners and nine aces.

Vukic will meet American Bjorn Fratangelo, who's ranked 12 places higher than him in his qualifying decider.

Perez has being doing it the hard way in qualifying, the Shellharbour left-hander again being taken to the brink by Romanian Alexandra Dulgheru before prevailing 6-0 4-6 7-6 (7-2) in a two hours and 37 minute slog.

The 25-year-old will next face Belgian Greet Minnen.

Rockhampton's Sanders continued an excellent year that's seen her clamber from 282 to 161 in the WTA rankings by defeating Turkey's Cagla Buyukakcay 6-2 6-4 in just 70 minutes and set up a decider with Swiss Susan Bandecchi.

Bandecchi, who's ranked 58 places below Sanders on the computer, earned a notable win over Tsvetana Pironkova.

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