Melbourne, Dec 18 (DPA) Australia’s Casey Dellacqua battled from a set and a break down to stay in the hunt for an Australian Open wild card Friday while fellow hopeful Alica Molik was bundled out of the playoff event.
Dellacqua narrowly averted an upset at the hands of Shannon Golds with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 result to reach a Saturday semi-finals.
Jessica Moore proved too strong for Molik, winning their quarter-final 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 just a month after the pair met at an Australian Pro Tour event in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
“It’s probably one of the best wins I’ve had all year,” Moore said. “There’s nothing like earning your own right into an event and winning this week would be an amazing feeling for me.”
Dellacqua appeared headed for defeat against the second-seeded Golds after losing serve in the second set after losing the first.
But she rallied to level at one apiece before turning the tables with victory. “I relaxed a little bit more (in the second set) and got a little more aggressive,” said the winner.
“My shoulder’s feeling great actually, but I just didn’t get enough first serves in today. That’s something that I’ll definitely look to improve tomorrow.”
On the men’s side, US Open junior champion Bernard Tomic reached the last four, defeating third seed Greg Jones 6-3, 6-4.
The men’s and women’s tournaments will yield an Australian Open main draw spot to eventual champions Sunday.