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Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic has made a memorable main-draw debut at Wimbledon, scoring a four-set victory in opposition to German Daniel Altmaier.
London, Nice Britain, 3 July 2023 | Leigh Rogers
On the eve of his Wimbledon debut, Aleksandar Vukic predicted “it’s going to be a enjoyable week”.
The 27-year-old Australian was thrilled to be making his main-draw debut on the grass-court Grand Slam, a reward for an unimaginable stand up the rankings this yr.
From exterior the world’s prime 200 in February, Vukic now sits at a career-high world No.87.
He certified at 5 tour-level occasions within the opening half of the season and in addition contested three ATP Challenger finals. His toil paid off, offering direct acceptance at a Grand Slam match for the primary time in his profession.
In his solely earlier go to to Wimbledon in 2021, Vukic misplaced within the opening spherical of qualifying, which is performed off-site at Roehampton.
“It’s very thrilling. It’s my first time on the main-draw web site. I’m nonetheless attempting to determine the place every little thing is,” Vukic admitted.
“It’s fairly surreal. I even have my household and some my mates right here, so it’s going to be a enjoyable week.”
Vukic made certain his keep extends past the opening day too, posting a powerful 6-3 7-6(1) 3-6 7-5 victory in opposition to world No.66 Daniel Altmaier.
He fired 11 aces and struck 37 winners of their two-hour and 36-minute first-round encounter at Court docket 9.
Altmaier served to stage the match at two-sets apiece, however Vukic managed to reel off three consecutive video games to safe victory.
“The gang actually helped,” Vukic mentioned. “I discovered myself somewhat flatter in direction of the top. I didn’t actually sleep properly final evening … and my eyes began feeling it in direction of the latter stage of the match.
“It received somewhat darkish as properly. So I actually tried to make use of the gang as a result of they had been up for it.”
That is Vukic’s second profession Grand Slam main-draw victory and his first since reaching the second spherical at Australian Open 2022 as a wildcard.
He described this victory as “very particular”, noting it meant so much to have his household and associates courtside.
“This sport is particular person, however with out them, I wouldn’t be taking part in,” Vukic mentioned.
“There have been moments the place I doubted whether or not I might do it and it’s extra particular to share these kind of moments with those that are there with you day-to-day.”
Vukic is the second Australian via to the spherical of 64 at this yr’s championships, becoming a member of Jordan Thompson who gained a five-set thriller on the identical courtroom earlier within the day.
The enjoyable is ready to proceed for Vukic, who will face both No.27 seed and British hope Dan Evans or France’s Quentin Halys within the second spherical.
World No.79 Halys was main by two units when their match was postponed till tomorrow.
> PREVIEW: 5 Australians in motion on day two at Wimbledon 2023
Aussies in motion – Wimbledon
RESULTS
Gents’s singles, first spherical
Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) d Daniel Altmaier (GER) 6-3 7-6(1) 3-6 7-5
Jordan Thompson (AUS) d Brandon Nakashima (USA) 2-6 2-6 6-4 7-6(4) 6-3
[7] Andrey Rublev d Max Purcell (AUS) 6-3 7-5 6-4
Girls’ singles, first spherical
Wang Xinyu (CHN) d [Q] Storm Hunter (AUS) 6-3 6-1
COMING UP
Gents’s singles, first spherical
[15] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v [Q] Kimmer Coppejans (BEL)
Jason Kubler (AUS) v Ugo Humbert (FRA)
Chris O’Connell (AUS) v [Q] Hamad Medjedovic (SRB)
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v [Q] Dominic Stricker (SUI)
Girls’ singles, first spherical
Daria Saville (AUS) v [WC] Katie Boulter (GBR)
Gents’s singles, second spherical
Jordan Thompson (AUS) v [2] Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) v TBC
> READ: Doubles attracts revealed for Wimbledon 2023
E book on-line, play as we speak: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on courtroom and have some enjoyable!
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