Six more Australian tennis players remain in the hunt for French Open main-draw starts after successfully winning through to the second round of qualifying in Paris.
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Kim Birrell, who qualified last year, led five Aussie women into round two of the preliminary event with a 2-6 6-0 6-3 comeback win over Russian Polena Kudermetova on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).
Taylah Preston beat Croatian Tara Wurth 6-2 6-4, Astra Sharma advanced with a 2-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 victory over German Ella Seidel, Olivia Gadecki outclassed American Mccartney Kessler 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 and Priscilla Hon defeated German veteran Mona Barthel 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.
The quintet are hoping to join Ajla Tomljanovic and Daria Saville in main draw at Roland Garros.
But Talia Gibson, Jaimee Fourlis, Destanee Aiava and Aussie No.1 Arina Rodionova all crashed out in the opening round of qualifying.
Li Tu is the only Australian remaining in the men's qualifying event after Omar Jasika, Dane Sweeny, Marc Polmans and third seed James Duckworth were all eliminated in roune one.
Tu rallied from a set down to beat Brit Oliver Crawford 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-2 in his quest to make the main draw of the clay-court grand slam starting on Sunday.
Led by world No.1 Alex de Minaur, Australia is already guaranteed nine players in the men's singles.
Tu is looking to join de Minaur, Jordan Thompson, Alexei Popyrin, Chris O'Connell, Aleksandar Vukic, Rinky Hijikata, Max Purcell, Thanasi Kokkinakis and wildcard Adam Walton.
Australian Associated Press
