Ireland's top ranked tennis player, James McGee, is just a single game away from qualifying for the first round of the Australian Open. Two successive wins against Matija Pecotic (7-6, 7-5) and France's Vincent Millot (6-2, 6-4) respectively.
It was quite the victory considering McGee was unseeded for the draw while his French opponent was 30th seed. If the Dubliner can replicate his performance in the third qualifying round, it will most definitely put Irish tennis in the spotlight.
McGee will be out to upset the home crowd as he takes on Australian, Blake Mott in the final qualifier. His 20-year-old opponent is relatively inexperienced on the senior circuit and is ranked 286th - 92 places behind McGee - but will be buoyed by a convincing 6-2, 6-4 win over Tobias Kamke (ranked 118th).
The two are expected on court 7 at 12:30pm (22:30 GMT) tomorrow afternoon.
If successful, the Castleknock native will go one step beyond his performance at Melbourne Park last year, where he was eventually eliminated from the competition by Germany's Daniel Brands.
To date, McGee has qualified for the first round of a Grand Slam tournament on one occasion, the 2014 US Open. The former Belvedere College student is now just two sets away from emulating his performance in the States.
Last year, James McGee spoke to Jarlath Regan on the 'An Irishman Abroad' podcast about what drives him to keep going in tennis.
I often go back to the seven, eight, nine year old James McGee and I picture the dreams that I had. I just refuse to let that kid down within me. I won't let it happen.
It's easy for me to be seen as the guy who struggles and is living hand-to-mouth. But I don't want to be known as that. I want to be known as the guy who overcame all that, achieved something and inspired others.
one more my 🐝!
— John Isner (@JohnIsner) January 13, 2017
Tough match for @jamesmcgee01 in final qualies. Takes on Blake Mott who will get lots of crowd support. Come on James! #ausopen
— Chris Goldsmith (@TheTennisTalker) January 13, 2017
good luck tomorrow :) love you
— Ryan Harrison (@ryanharrison92) January 13, 2017
