Vicky Jiménez Kasintseva Advances in Australian Open Qualifying with Comeback Win

Andorran tennis player Vicky Jiménez Kasintseva advanced to the second round of Australian Open qualifying with a hard-fought comeback victory over Canada's Kayla Cross, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, in a 2-hour-22-minute battle at Melbourne Park.

The ninth-seeded 17-year-old, ranked 114th in the world, trailed early against the 20-year-old Cross, positioned 198th. After breaks leveled the first set at 3-3, Cross secured another to lead 5-3. Jiménez saved one set point but lost it 6-4.

In the second set, Cross took a 3-1 edge, but Jiménez fought back to 4-4 before breaking serve on her first set point to win 6-4 and force a decider.

The third set featured intense exchanges with breaks traded until 5-5. Jiménez then saved three break points in her final service game to hold, gaining momentum to break Cross and convert her second match point for the 7-5 triumph.

The victory sends the Andorran into a clash with China's Lin Zhu, 31, ranked around 161st-163rd, who defeated Brazil's Laura Pigossi 6-4, 6-4. The matchup is set for early Tuesday into Wednesday local time in Melbourne, with the exact schedule pending. Two more qualifying wins would secure Jiménez's second Grand Slam main-draw appearance.