Australian Open up for grabs
The $125,000 Australian Open remains a lottery
The $125,000 Australian Open remains a lottery following the second round of the men’s and third round of women’s singles, with any one of the remaining players capable of hoisting the trophy aloft.
During another dramatic day on the Darebin greens, reigning Australian Open pairs winner Neville Rodda produced one of the big upsets of the tournament after eliminating Scottish star Graeme Archer.
World number eight Archer was granted a wildcard into the event after recently skipping his country to gold and silver medals during a stellar performance at the Atlantic Rim Championships in Cyprus, but the Brighton bowler proved he was up to the test, making quick work of the international giant with an 10-4, 8-7 win.
World number one Leif Selby may have declared himself an underdog in the tournament, but after storming home to a straight sets victory in the second round, the two time men’s singles champion took one step closer to defending his crown.
“Due to my retirement I haven’t had much preparation leading into it but the more I’m on the green the more comfortable I feel,” Selby said after his victory.
“The more I play the better I get.
“It was the best I’ve played in quite a while.
“The trophy is a long way ahead and I never look too far.”
Competition in the blue-ribbon event remains rife, with six Australian representatives booking their berth in the third round with straight sets wins.
World number two Brett Wilkie, world number four Aron Sherriff, Commonwealth Games gold and silver medallist Mark Casey, Asia Pacific Championships gold medallist Nathan Rice and Australia squad members Sean Baker and Mathew Pieterson remained unscathed in their second preliminary matches but are not destined to collide until round four.
Former world champion and current national coach Steve Glasson OAM endured a forgettable day on the green, bowing out of the men’s singles and pairs events in the tie-break. He’s hopes still remain alive in the triples when he lines up alongside Moonee Ponds’ Chris Ball and Broadbeach’s Scott De Jongh after progressing through the last chance qualifying.
Meanwhile, world number five Siti Zalina Ahmad’s hopes for Australian Open glory were dashed today in round three of the women’s singles.
The Malaysian powerhouse was defeated by Malwala’s Anne Miles, who proved too good on the day for the dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist, recording a straight sets 3-10, 1-9 victory.
Another upset was had by Australian A-Squad representative Julie Keegan, beaten comfortably in straight sets by Warrnambool’s Kellie Bowles 4-7, 3-12.
Bowles and Miles will now face off in tomorrow’s quarter-finals.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom around the rinks however, with Australian Captain Lynsey Armitage putting in an impressive performance against Brenda Thompson. She made hard work of it for Thompson, winning the first set 9-6, but Thompson let her intentions be known in the second set when she fought back to secure a comfortable 9-2 win. The two put on a brave performance in the tie-break, with each collecting three shots over the first two ends before Armitage stole the glory by single shot.
The Helensvale gun will now square off against 2008 Australian Open singles and triples winner Katrina Wright in tomorrow’s quarter final.
Australian representative Claire Duke also proved too strong for her opponent, former Australia A squad member Kelli Wray, which saw her take out a tie-break finish 2-1. She will now face former Australian Junior Championships gold medallist Samantha Wilson for her troubles.
Young guns Lisa Phillips and Sarah Boddington showed us why they have been chosen to represent this year’s squad by securing tie-break finishes in both matches to Maryanne Parcell and Carol Bannister 3-2 respectively, but will now lock horns in their quarter-final encounter.
Staged from February 19 to 25, the Australian Open event features singles, pairs and triples for both men and women, as well as a festival of bowls which incorporates specific age group and bowlers with a disability divisions.
Tomorrow will feature the quarter-finals of the women’s singles and women’s pairs, women’s triples round one and two, men’s pairs round two, men’s triples round two and men’s singles round three.
Click here for full results from the 2012 Australian Open.