James Ward & Jamie Baker through to final round qaulifiers
10th January 2013
James Ward & Jamie Baker have reached the final round of the Australian Open qualifying in Melbourne Park with three sets wins.
British No.3 Ward came back from a set down to defeat Mischa Zverev of Germany 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-4 while Baker, who was also a set behind, overcame Italian 19th seed Matteo Viola 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
For a main draw position, 26 year-old Baker plays American Donald Young. The pair have met once before at ATP level, where the Briton sealed a straight sets win at the 2012 Aegon International. Meanwhile Ward, 25, plays German Julian Reister in a first time meeting at a Grand Slam.
Johanna Konta faced a tough loss in the women's qualifying round two, beaten 7-5, 2-6, 8-6 by Yi-Miao Zhou of China.
2013 Australian Open Draw
British No.1 Andy Murray will begin his bid for a second Grand Slam title against Dutchman Robin Haase.
Murray could face a quarter-final meeting with Juan Martin Del Potro and a semi-final against Roger Federer.
Heather Watson, ranked 47, plays Romanian Alexandra Cadantu, while Laura Robson meets the 2012 Aegon Classic Champion, Melanie Oudin.
Should Robson win her opening round, the world ranked No.50 meets either former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova or former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone.