Kretschmann within an ace of Open wild- card chance

Geraldton’s Jarron Kretschmann has fallen agonisingly short of a potential Australian Open berth after coming runner-up at the Australian Open State mixed doubles wildcard play-offs with Perth-based partner Tallulah Grauaug at the State Tennis Centre recently.

Kretschmann and Grauaug performed well, winning two of their three round-robin matches, only going down to eventual champions Brenton Bacon and Marissa Gianotti.

The pair claimed their first-round win in three sets, went down to the Bacon and Gianotti pair in two and claimed their final-round match in two sets.

Kretschmann was the oldest competitor at the event and the only regional-based player, while Grauaug was the youngest.

Kretschmann admitted that it was difficult to perform with a new partner, though said Grauaug played exceptionally well against more experienced opposition.

“I think I was the oldest person out there but I was pretty happy with how we went, going to Perth and playing against strong opposition is always good, ” he said.

“The experience is great, it was my first time playing with her and being the only junior in the event, she held her own really well.

“It’s pretty hard when you’ve got to play with a brand new partner, you don’t have that communication and gelling that you do when you’ve played with someone a lot.

“Mixed doubles is that bit more difficult because sometimes the ladies are bit more tentative in coming forward, so you tend to play a different style of doubles, but we warmed into it.”

The champions will now head to Melbourne for the national wildcard play-offs for a shot at playing in the Open.