Saville qualifies at Adelaide WTA event

Murray Wenzel | January 3, 2022

Daria Saville has clinched a spot in the main draw of the Adelaide International with a 7-5 3-6 6-4 defeat of Katie Boulter.

Married to doubles talent Luke Saville last month, the former top-20 talent barely played in 2019 and 2020 as she battled various issues with her feet and Achilles.

Surgery followed her Australian Open second round exit to compatriot Ash Barty last year and it’s so far so good for the energetic 27-year-old.

A Billie Jean King Cup win over Belgium’s Greet Minnen in November was enough to catch the eye of officials awarding Australian Open wildcards.

And she validated that show of faith in her first appearance of 2022, Saville beating Caty McNally and then Boulter in successive days to join the 32-strong field headed by world No.1 Barty.

Main draw action has already started, with world No.6 Maria Sakkari beating Tamara Zidansek 6-2 0-6 6-4.

Barty is likely to begin her campaign on Wednesday, against either a qualifier still to be determined or American Coco Gauff.