PETE ZIEBRON
For the first time since 1985, Ireland will have representation in Men’s Grand Slam competition as 25 year-old Louk Sorensen advanced through the qualifying rounds at the 2010 Australian Open.
Sorensen, the son of Irish Davis Cup Captain Sean Sorensen, becomes the first Irishman to appear in a Grand Slam since 1985 when Matt Doyle, who was born and raised in California but played under the Irish flag, competed at the 1985 Australian Open. Doyle is the current Vice President of the ATP.
Louk Sorensen, who was not yet born when Doyle played the Australian Open in 1985, started his 2010 campaign with success as he won three qualifying rounds at the Aircel Chennai Open in India. Although Sorensen lost in the first round of play in Chennai to Frenchman Stepahne Robert 6-2 6-1, he did defeat fellow Aussie Open qualifier Donald Young of the United States in the second round of qualifying in India.
Once in Melbourne, the 287th ranked Sorensen duplicated his efforts in Chennai and won all three qualifying rounds, however each round presented challenges. A second set tiebreak was needed to defeat Benjamin Balleret of Monaco in round one and Sorensen’s second round win against 26th seeded American Michael Yani went three sets. Finally, Sorensen defeated Daniel King-Turner of New Zealand in a second set tiebreaker to gain qualification into the 2010 Australian Open, where he will face Yen-Hsun Lu of Taipei.
Last July, Sorensen held a two sets to one
advantage against Marco Baghdatis in Davis Cup play in Cyprus. Baghdatis managed to win the next two
sets to claim the victory. Since
that time, Baghdatis managed to rise to number 42 in the world and defeated
Richard Gasquet earlier today to with the Medibank International tourney in
Sydney. Sorensen held his own
against Baghdatis, a former Australian Open Finalist and now he hopes to have a
breakthrough in a Grand Slam. His
opportunity begins on Court 11 on Monday.
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