Pe’er one win from Aus Open main draw

It’s the first time since 2005 that Pe’er has been made to go through pre-tournament qualifiers, but the good form she discovered in yesterday’s win over Canadian teenager Franciose Abanda carried through against Rodianova as she bolted to a hot start in the opening set. The Aussie put up more of a fight in the second set, coming back to level the match at one-all, before Pe’er, the qualifiers ninth seed, re-asserted herself in the deciding set to win the first five games.

Rodianava showed grit to hold serve to make it 5-1, but with Pe’er hitting all the angles on her ground strokes she made quick work of her opponent to close out another quality win.

Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Glushko fell short of her efforts last year, which saw her reach the first round of the main draw, after a 7-5, 6-2 defeat at the hands of Yafan Wang from China. In a hard-fought match pitting two very similar players, the Israeli battled to stay with Wang during long baseline rallies, which became a fixture of the match, but paid the price for too many unforced errors.

The 29-year-old Odesnik was another victim of day two, as he crashed out of qualifiers after a disappointing 7-6, 6-2 loss to French player and 31 seed Vincent Millot. Odesnik and Millot last faced off in round one of the Aussie Open main draw last year, when the American took the honors in a five-set epic, but the Frenchman had his revenge this time around. Losing the closest of first sets  seemed to dishearten the seasoned Odesnik and give confidence to his opponent, who rolled through the second set without really being challenged.

Pe’er will play her final game of qualifiers tomorrow in a must-win clash. Check the Australian Open website for who she will face, which is announced tonight.

The draw for Australian Open’s main event beginning Monday was confirmed today, with tough games ahead for the Jewish players. Israel’s Dudi Sela got off relatively lightly in his first round match, drawing unseeded Jan-Lennard Struff from Germany, while Argentinian Diego Shwartzman set a rough task in the first round against South African giant and 14th seed Kevin Anderson.

In the women’s competition, Camila Giorgi from Italy has also been thrown into the deep end with a first round match-up against fellow countrywoman and 12th seed Flavia Pennatta. If Pe’er triumphs tomorrow she will fill one of the leftover qualifier spots in the main draw.