- Aussie qualifier Storm Hunter stunned her more fancied opponent
- It was the 29-year-old’s first win in the women’s singles main draw
- Then the German Laura Siegemund faces a place in the third round
Storm Hunter has paid a heartfelt tribute to her inner circle after a long-awaited maiden win in the main draw of the Australian Open guaranteed her a stunning $180,000 payout.
Australia’s No. 1 doubles star – who grew up in a Queensland pub and ‘had no money’ as a child – built on her momentum from qualifying with a stunning 6-4 6-3 first-round win over former French Open star finalist Sara Errani on Monday.
Incredibly, the turning point victory comes in Hunter’s 10th Open campaign since his debut at Melbourne Park in 2012 as a teenager.
The 29-year-old has been awarded wildcards for each of her previous nine opportunities, including first-round main draw defeats in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022 and 2023.
Hunter’s only other Open victory came in qualifying four years ago.
Queensland-raised Storm Hunter has paid heartfelt tribute to her inner circle after a long-awaited maiden win in the Australian Open main draw
The 29-year-old stunned former world number five Sara Errani in straight sets at Melbourne Park – and will now earn at least $180,000 at her home Grand Slam
“It means everything,” she told the delighted crowd after finally breaking through.
“I grew up watching the Australian Open and then dreamed of playing here and then I had a lot of opportunities.
‘I’m a bit older, so I’ve played a few main draws and never won.
“So to get through qualifying and win my first round and wait for that is insane.”
As she pinched herself, it was a moment Hunter could never have imagined as a six-year-old growing up in the Grand Hotel in Rockhampton as her parents struggled to make ends meet.
‘I grew up in a pub in Rockhampton. My grandparents used to have that and we lived upstairs then. My parents had no money,” Hunter said.
‘They were hard workers. They knew I had this dream, and they joined the military to try to give us a better life and better opportunities.
“Then we moved to WA. Growing up, I often didn’t see my parents because they sacrificed their time with me and my brother to give us that support.
Storm Hunter is ranked number one in doubles but branded her singles victory over Sara Errani as ‘insane’
Storm Hunter next plays Germany’s Laura Siegemund on Wednesday for a spot in the third round, where a win would guarantee her $255,000 in prize money
“I feel like I owe it to them. They have always been very supportive and I think they believed in me more than ever before.”
Hunter has not only become Australia’s first women’s doubles top prospect since Samantha Stosur in 2006, but has also emerged as a linchpin for the country’s Billie Jean King Cup and United Cup teams over the past two years.
“I have a big schedule right now,” Hunter said. ‘Singles, doubles and mixed, bring it on.’
Hunter is particularly proud of being the first Australian woman to advance to the women’s second round without being given the advantage of a wildcard.
‘The priority was qualifying and playing there. It feels absolutely amazing to do it on my own,” she said after booking a date with fellow doubles specialist Laura Siegemund on Wednesday.
But the crafty southpaw said she also couldn’t have done it without her coach Nicole Pratt.
“She was the one who got me a scholarship at the time to move from WA to Victoria with the AIS program,” Hunter said.
“She saw me practicing in Perth and said, ‘This girl is good.’ I like how she works. She works hard’.
‘She really supported me in it. I’m so glad I still have her in my tennis career. She’s basically like family to me.”
Hunter next plays Germany’s Laura Siegemund on Wednesday for a spot in the third round, where a win would guarantee her $255,000 in prize money.
