Perth teen Taylah Preston is worked up to fulfil a life-long dream and make her Grand Slam main-draw debut on the Australian Open.
Melbourne, Australia, 14 January 2024 | Leigh Rogers
Taylah Preston just isn’t feeling flustered about dealing with a seeded opponent in her Grand Slam main-draw debut.
The 18-year-old Aussie is a wildcard entry at Australian Open 2024 and begins her marketing campaign tomorrow in opposition to world No.23 Elina Svitolina.
The 29-year-old Ukrainian is a two-time Australian Open quarterfinalist, a former world No.3 and returning to Melbourne Park for the primary time because the beginning of her daughter, Skai, in 2022.
“It’s robust, however I believe whoever I drew it was going to be a tricky match,” acknowledged Preston.
“It’s a important draw of a Grand Slam, so everyone seems to be a very good participant. However I’m tremendous excited and searching ahead to it.
“Clearly she is tremendous skilled, however hopefully I can achieve extra expertise from it as nicely.”
A former top-10 junior and a three-time winner of the Feminine Junior Athlete of the Yr on the Australian Tennis Awards, Preston made a powerful transition to the skilled ranks in 2023.
The Perth expertise received 4 ITF singles titles and improved her rating greater than 600 locations.
The world No.203 proved she will problem the world’s finest as a wildcard ultimately week’s Adelaide Worldwide, the place she prolonged Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia to a few units within the opening spherical.
Though the world No.20 ultimately triumphed 6-4 1-6 6-3, Preston believes the expertise gained will show invaluable in opposition to Svitolina.
“That match actually gave me a little bit of a confidence increase,” Preston stated.
“I believe that match actually set me up nicely when it comes to form of seeing the extent of high 20, in addition to realizing that if I can play my finest tennis that it may well maintain up in opposition to them.”
The fearless teen is hoping the group can even be on her facet when she meets Svitolina at 1573 Area on Monday morning.
“I believe the AO is tremendous distinctive in that the followers actually get behind the Aussies, so I’m actually trying ahead to that,” she stated.
“However regardless of how many individuals are there, it’s simply going to be a tremendous match to play.
“My dream has at all times been to play within the Australian Open.”
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