Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic headline the Australians in action in Dubai and Doha, while John Millman and Daria Saville are both competing in Mexico.

February 21, 2022 | Tennis Australia

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Alex de Minaur will aim to continue his good form at the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where the No.1 Australian will face Karen Khachanov in the first round.

De Minaur’s strong start to the 2022 season includes two top-40 wins at the ATP Cup, a career-best run to the fourth round of the Australian Open and a quarter-final in Rotterdam.

After briefly dropping out of the top 40 earlier this season, De Minaur is now set to return to the top 30.

De Minaur is joined in Dubai by compatriot Chris O’Connell, who beat Henri Laaksonen and Yuki Bhambri in qualifying to enter the tournament’s main draw for the first time.

John Peers will compete in doubles alongside Filip Polosek, with the pair set to face wildcards Saketh Myeni and Ramkumar Ramanathan in the first round.

Australians in action – Dubai

RESULTS
Men’s singles, 2nd round
Chris O’Connell (Australia) d Yuki Bhambri (IND) 6-3 6-4
[9] Jiri Vesely (CZE) d [1] Alexei Popyrin (AUS) 7-6(4) 6-7(6) 6-2

FUTURE
Men’s singles, final round
Alex de Minaur (Australia) against Karen Khachanov (RUS)
[Q] Chris O’Connell (Australia) v [WC] Andy Murray (GBR)

Men’s doubles, first round
[3] John Peers (Australia)/Filip Polosek (SLO) vs. [WC] Saketh Myeni (IND)/Ramkumar Ramanathan (IND)

Doha, Qatar

Ajla Tomljanovic is leading Australia’s hopes for the prestigious WTA-1000 tournament in Doha.

She faces Russian Daria Kasatkina in the first round.

The 28-year-old Australian is the only Australian to enter the Qatar Total Energies Open singles draw, after Astra Sharma, Maddison Inglis and Ellen Perez withdrew from qualifying.

Perez is competing in the doubles tournament alongside American Desirae Krawzyk.

Australians in action – Doha

FUTURE
Ladies’ singles, first round
Ajla Tomljanovic (Australia) against Daria Kasatkina (RUS)

Women’s doubles, first round
Ellen Perez (AUS)/Desirae Krawczyk (USA) vs. Oksana Kalashnikovia (GEO)/Maryna Zanevska

Acapulco, Mexico

John Millman is determined to build on some stunning form at the ATP-500 tournament in Acapulco, Mexico.

Last week, Millman reached his first semifinal in more than a year in Delray Beach, where casualties included No. 8 seed Maxime Cressy and No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov.

He also impressed in the semi-final against Reilly Opelka, pushing the No. 2 seed to three sets in three hours.

The 32-year-old Queenslander faces Marcos Giron in his first round in Acapulco – a rematch of their second round contest in Delray Beach, which Millman won in straight sets.

Australians in action – Acapulco

FUTURE
Men’s singles, first round
John Millman (Australia) against Marcos Giron (USA)

Guadalajara, Mexico

Daria Saville will fly the Australian flag at the WTA 250 tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico.

But the 27-year-old Australian faces a tough first-round opponent in No.1 seed Emma Raducanu, who is also the defending US Open champion.

Saville, formerly Gavrilova, is rebuilding her standings after undergoing Achilles surgery early last year.

Australians in action – Guadalajara

FUTURE
Singles from Woen, first round
Daria Saville (Australia) v [1] Emma Raducanu (GBR)