Adelaide International 2025 – Qualifying Round-Up: Fernandez, Sakkari and Bencic take the first step

The Adelaide International qualifiers feature an impressive line-up of players, including Leylah Fernandez, Maria Sakkari, and Belinda Bencic, all vying for a spot in the tournament's main draw. With such high-profile players failing to secure direct entry, the competition for qualification has drawn significant attention.

Interestingly, players like Fernandez and Sakkari have secured their position as Australian Open seeds, but did not qualify directly for this WTA 500.

In the opening round of qualifiers, the favourites largely delivered. Leylah Fernandez (No. 31) cruised past Jodie Burrage in straight sets and will face Irina-Camelia Begu (No. 79) next for a place in the main draw. Similarly, Katerina Siniakova (No. 45) defeated Cristina Bucsa (No. 103) in straight sets and will now take on Ashlyn Krueger (No. 64), a recent quarterfinalist in Brisbane.

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Other top seeds advancing include Xinyu Wang (No. 37), Kamila Rakhimova (No. 60), and Marie Bouzkova (No. 44). A standout match in the final qualifying round will see wildcard Maria Sakkari (No. 32) face American rising star Peyton Stearns (No. 47). Sakkari benefited from Saizai Zheng’s (No. 692) retirement while leading 6-2, 4-0, while Stearns dominated Norway’s Malene Helgo (No. 404).

Another wildcard was granted to Belinda Bencic (No. 489), making her tour return after a year-long maternity break. The Swiss star defeated ninth seed Moyuka Uchijima (No. 62) comfortably in straight sets and will face Germany’s Laura Siegemund (No. 80) next.

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This Saturday, the six qualifiers who will join the star-studded main draw—featuring 14 players from the top 20, including Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, Danielle Collins, Paula Badosa, Barbora Krejcikova, and Mirra Andreeva—will be determined.

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