Champion Australian doubles player Storm Hunter can achieve a new personal milestone in Miami over the next fortnight but she has already overcome a significant challenge just to qualify for the lucrative event in Florida.
After falling short of her bid to reclaim the world’s No.1 doubles ranking when beaten in the final of the Indian Wells Masters on the weekend, the Aussie swiftly exited the California desert in order to travel to Miami in time to play the singles qualifying event.
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What was already going to be a swift turnaround in atmospheric and playing conditions became even more challenging due to a series of travel complications, as detailed by Hunter’s Billie Jean King Cup teammate Dasha Saville on social media.
The 29-year-old and Katerina Siniakova were beaten by Elise Mertens, who combined with the Australian through 2023, and Su-Wei Hsieh in the doubles final on Saturday.
The left-hander dashed from the trophy ceremony to the Palm Springs airport with husband Loughlin Hunter and coach Nicole Pratt for a flight to Miami via Dallas, but delays in California meant that they missed their connection.
The trio snared a few hours sleep in Dallas before boarding a 7am flight east, only to suffer a further baggage delay at the airport in Miami and an incident with a boom gate ahead of a 2pm practice session with Saville.
After issuing a request to borrow some shorts from her compatriot, the world No.3 was able to make it to Hard Rock Stadium for a quick hit before heading out to tackle French veteran Alize Cornet in a qualifying outing.
Hunter was branded an “absolute hero” by Saville after snaring a 7-6 (1) 2-6 6-4 triumph over the former world No.11 Cornet and backed up the effort by beating talented German Jule Niemeier, who reached the 4th Rd of the US Open two years ago, 6-4 7-5 to qualify.
It is another step forward on the singles court for the late-bloomer, whose career was threatened in her early 20s by a serious shoulder injury, while her progress was also hindered by self-doubt for a period.
The Western Australian, who rose to the top of the doubles rankings at the end of last year and has played with distinction for Australia in singles in team competitions, is now within reach of two significant milestones on the singles court.
She has moved to a career-high ranking of 118 based on a live estimate, which puts her within reach of a top 100 breakthrough, and is also now in range of becoming Australia’s top-ranked singles player for the first time in her career.
That position is held by Saville, the former world No.20 who is currently ranked 115 and doing a good job to rejoin the top 100 while on the comeback from a second knee reconstruction.
Ranked 200 in the world a year ago, Hunter has now beaten 10 women ranked above her in 2024 while managing to qualify for Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the Dubai Masters over the past 12 months.
The Miami Masters and infancy of the clay court season beginning in a fortnight are important for both Saville and Hunter as they look to secure direct entry in Roland Garros.
If either or both of Saville, who plays Zhang Shuai in the first round of the lucrative Miami Masters, and Hunter, who faces Martina Trevisan in her opener, can break into the top 100, it will open the path for Tennis Australia to offer a reciprocal wildcard in Paris to another compatriot.
There are seven Australian men in action in Miami, which is the second leg of the “Sunshine Swing” across the US in March, while Alex Walton is still alive in qualifying.
Alex de Minaur is seeded nine and has an opening round bye. Jordan Thompson will play Nino Borges, Alexei Popyrin resumes from injury and has drawn Facundo Diaz Acosta while Aleksandar Vukic faces Roberto Carballes Baena.
If successful Vukic, who took a set from Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells before falling in a tight clash against Matteo Berrettini in Phoenix, would play No.1 seed Carlos Alcaraz.
Max Purcell is due to play Marton Fucsovics, Rinky Hijikata will face Botic van de Zandschulp and Chris O’Connell has drawn a qualifier.