Destanee Aiava is among five Australians who will vie for a US Open main draw berth in final-round qualifying.
New York, USA, 22 August 2025 | Jackson Mansell
Five Australians are through to the final day of US Open qualifying after securing second-round victories on Friday morning (AEST).
Destanee Aiava, Emerson Jones, Priscilla Hon, James Duckworth, and Jason Kubler are one step away from confirming their main-draw places at Flushing Meadows.
Aiava, aiming for her second US Open main draw appearance, rallied from a set down to defeat Lithuanian Justina Mikulskyte 2-6 6-1 6-4. Despite losing the opening set in 29 minutes, Aiava won five consecutive games in the second set, which helped steady the momentum before she eventually claimed victory.
The Victorian faces German Ella Seidel for a spot in the US Open main draw, something she is hoping to achieve for the second-straight year.
Aiava advanced through qualifying in New York in 2024 without dropping a set, before she fell to No.4 seed Elena Rybakina in the opening round. The 25-year-old was competitive against the former Wimbledon champion and took the second set to a tiebreak.
Jones reached the final round of qualifying for the second Slam in a row following her straight-sets victory over Brazilian Laura Pigossi.
Leading 5-4 when the rain postponed play on Day 3, Jones immediately broke serve on Day 4 to claim the opening set. In a seesawing battle in which both players struggled to hold serve, Jones assumed control late in the second set to win 6-4 6-4.
READ: Jones lands maiden US Open qualifying triumph
No.28 seed Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, who defeated Astra Sharma 2-6 6-3 6-3, stands in the way of Jones as she aims to compete in her first Grand Slam singles main draw off home soil.
On the men’s side, Duckworth defeated James McCabe in a gruelling all-Australian encounter. The two-hour, 51-minute match was decided by a match tiebreak, in which Duckworth’s experience proved the difference.
Set to fight for his 38th Grand Slam main-draw appearance on Saturday morning, the No.5 seed will be up against Hungarian Zsombor Piros, who is looking to make his Slam debut.
AUSSIES IN ACTION: US OPEN QUALIFYING
DAY 4 RESULTS
Men’s qualifying singles, second round[5] James Duckworth (AUS) d James McCabe (AUS) 7-5 5-7 7-6(5)Jason Kubler (AUS) d Kyrian Jacquet (FRA) 6-4 6-2Henrique Rocha (POR) d Bernard Tomic (AUS) 7-6(4) 6-2
Women’s qualifying singles, second roundEmerson Jones (AUS) d Laura Pigossi (BRA) 6-4 6-4Destanee Aiava (AUS) d Justina Mikulskyte (LTU) 2-6 6-1 6-4[27] Priscilla Hon (AUS) d Jule Niemeier (GER) 6-4 6-3[28] Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva (AND) d Astra Sharma (AUS) 2-6 6-3 6-3Arianne Hartono (NED) d [19] Olivia Gadecki (AUS) 6-4 4-6 6-4Claire Liu (USA) d Maddison Inglis (AUS) 6-3 7-5Darja Semenistaja (LAT) d Lizette Cabrera (AUS) 6-1 6-2
COMING UP ON DAY 5
Men’s qualifying singles, second roundJason Kubler (AUS) v [19] Dino Prizmic (CRO) – second match, Court 6[5] James Duckworth (AUS) v Zsombor Piros (HUN) – second match, Court 12
Women’s qualifying singles, second round
Destanee Aiava (AUS) v [21] Ella Seidel (GER) – first match, Court 6Emerson Jones (AUS) v [28] Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva (AND) – first match, Court 12[27] Priscilla Hon (AUS) v Hanne Vandewinkel (BEL) – third match, Court 11
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