Australian Open 2022 - Liam Broady, Harriet Dart qualify to join Emma Raducanu, Andy Murray in main draw
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ByEurosport
Updated 14/01/2022 at 11:37 GMT
Liam Broady is through to the Australian Open men's singles draw and will join fellow Brits Andy Murray, Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans. Dart is also through and will join Britain's Emma Raducanu and Heather Watson in the main women's singles draw for the Australian Open. Stream the 2022 Australian Open live and on demand on discovery+.
Liam Broady
Image credit: Getty Images
Great Britain's Liam Broady has qualified for the Australian Open main draw after coming from behind to defeat Russia's Roman Safiulling 4-6 7-6(2) 6-2.
Broady wrapped up the contest in two hours and 17 minutes and produced more aces and total points won - 96 to Safiulling's 87 - en route to victory.
The 28-year-old will be playing in the first Australian Open main draw of his career. Broady is set to face Australia's Nick Kyrgios in the first round.
Compatriot Harriet Dart is also into the main draw after defeating Australian wild card Kimberly Birrell 6-3 6-3 in the final qualifying round.
The 25-year-old has reached the main draw for the third time in four years after winning the contest at Melbourne Park in one hour and 47 minutes.
"I'm super happy and pleased to be through," Dart said after the match.
Playing three matches in qualifying is never easy. I need to put myself in a position where I'm directly entered in the draw.
"Kimberly and I are good friends and practised a lot together but never played against each other. It is never going to be an easy match when you're playing for a spot in the main draw."
Momentum swung wildly both ways in the opening set with Dart breaking the Birrell serve four times, while the Australian broke the Brit twice.
The second set was a similarly nervy affair with Dart going 3-2 down having been broken twice, but Dart reeled off the next four games to secure her spot in the main draw.
Dart won two qualifying matches at an Australian Open warm-up event last week before losing to former US Open finalist Madison Keys 6-3 7-6(2).
Dart says getting the match practice aided her preparations for qualifying.
She added: "I benefitted from playing last week, getting three matches in under these conditions. I've also got the experience of coming through qualifying here twice before, so that helped too."
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