Australian Open 2021 – Day Three wrap

by Lachlan Williams on June 14, 2021

More big names were in action during the third day of the 2021 Australian Open on Monday, with the men’s singles sectional competition wrapping up and the first of the women’s events getting under way.

The women’s pairs competition commenced on Monday morning, with a plethora of past winners and big names enjoying successful starts to their Australian Open campaigns.

Defending champions Genevieve Delves and Dawn Hayman appear to have carried their winning form across from 2019, claiming the honours in their section.

2016 winners Anne Johns was joined by Samantha Ferguson (filling in for Rebecca Van Asch), starting strongly to take out their section, while Jackaroos and 2013 champions Kelsey Cottrell and Lynsey Clarke also progressed by topping their pool.

The 2017 winning duo in Julie Keegan and Ellen Ryan also moved on, despite new partners; Keegan took out her section alongside partner Cassandra Millerick, while Ryan advanced alongside Kristina Krstic as one of 11 next-best qualifiers, with two wins and a +6 shot margin enough to secure passage.

READ MORE: MEN’S SINGLES & WOMEN’S PAIRS SECTIONAL WINNERS – DAY THREE

Sarah Duffield and Amanda Haevecker topped the next-best qualifier list with two wins and an impressive +34 shot difference, with Natasha Van Eldik and Jamie-Lee Worsnop also among those that progressed.

Some cracking contests await in the women’s pairs round of 32, possibly none more so than Johns and Ferguson/Van Asch (depending on availability) facing off against young guns Ryan and Krstic.

The final nine of 177 sections in the men’s singles was also completed on Monday, with BCiB Australian Jackaroo Corey Wedlock winning his way through to the knockout stages, while young gun Jake Rynne was also among those to advance.

READ MORE: MEN’S SINGLES & WOMEN’S PAIRS NEXT-BEST QUALIFIERS

With all sectional winners locked in, 79 next-best qualifiers were confirmed to also progress to the next stage of the event.

Next-best qualifiers needed at least two wins and a +10 shot differential to advance to the round of 256; among the qualifiers were former Murray Steamer David Ferguson and Emerging Jackaroo Nick Cahill.

In a tantalising start to the knockout stages, Ferguson will battle it out with Jackaroo Carl Healey in the first knockout Men’s Singles round on Saturday, June 19.

However, one of, if not the most anticipated matchups of the next round will be pairs partners and Australians singles superstars Aron Sherriff and Ray Pearse going head to head.

More high quality action will be on display on Tuesday, with men’s pairs action to get under way.

The 2021 Australian Open will be staged across the Gold Coast from June 12-25, courtesy of support from Tourism and Events Queensland and City of Gold Coast.