Australian Open qualifier Max Purcell has sacrificed his Wimbledon title-winning partnership with Matt Ebden to chase his top-100 singles dream.
Purcell breezed through qualifying without dropping a set, joining countryman Aleks Vukic in advancing to the main draw on Thursday, although fellow Australian Tristan Schoolkate fell at the final hurdle.
Matthew Ebden (left) and Max Purcell celebrate their win in the men’s doubles final at Wimbledon last year.Credit:AP
The 24-year-old, who beat Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi to progress, also made last year’s doubles final at Melbourne Park with Ebden – losing to Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis – but they will play with new partners this fortnight and beyond.
Ebden and India’s Rohan Bopanna are projected to be the No.10 seeds at the Australian Open, while Purcell and Jordan Thompson will be dangerous unseeded floaters.
“Doubles has screwed me. The scheduling is impossible when you’re on a different schedule for singles and doubles,” Purcell said
“I got only about 17 singles tournaments last year … but I’m playing events where I shouldn’t really be there for singles [because of his lower ranking]. I was just getting in last minute and my prep wasn’t great.
Max Purcell.Credit:AP
“I’m trying to take a step away from focusing on doubles this year and trying to focus on my singles and see where the next three or four years can take me.”
Purcell is ranked No.204 in singles but would have been top 10 in doubles if not for the ATP Tour stripping Wimbledon of ranking points due to the event’s decision to ban Russians and Belarusians over the invasion of Ukraine.
This is the second time the 24-year-old has qualified for the Australian Open after first doing so in 2020 – and third grand slam overall – on top of receiving a wildcard into the 2021 US Open.
He has never been higher than No.156 in singles but feels he has “a lot more to give” and is looking forward to playing next week, especially in front of the Australian fans.
Purcell was mostly unfussed about who his first-round opponent might be, but said he would ideally like to avoid nine-time champion Novak Djokovic early on.
“I would prefer to play someone I can get into the tournament with before maybe taking on a Novak … but I’m not going to complain at all. A grand slam is where you want to be.”
Vukic, ranked 129 in the world, will contest the Australian Open main draw for the third straight year after making the second round in 2022.
He looked primed to gatecrash the top 100 after a strong start to last year before an elbow injury, including tendon damage, derailed his campaign and took almost six months to shake, but he is fighting fit now.
“It was three tough [qualifying] matches and my level was pretty consistent throughout and to qualify at any grand slam, but especially in Australia, means a lot, both to me and my family, so I’m very happy,” Vukic said.
“[The injury] was very tough and made me appreciate the others who have dealt with injuries and come back, like Jason Kubler or James Duckworth … and I think that’s when you need the right people around you.”
There are now 17 Australians in the main draw, including 11 men and six women.
