King moves one win away from Australian Open main draw

DARIAN KING is just one win away from another historic main draw appearance.

Barbados’ top ranked tennis pro has advanced to the final round of qualifying at the Australian Open after rattling off 11 straight games to beat Alexander Bublik 7-5, 6-0 this morning.

Trailing 5-2, the 25-year-old King overcame an early break and two set points to sweep aside the big-serving 20-year-old from Kazakhstan.

The result put King in an all-important third-round encounter with 21-year-old Swede Elias Ymer, who came from a set down to upend American Dennis Novikov 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-3.

A victory in that match will see King qualify for just his second ever main draw of a Grand Slam after he broke through at last September’s US Open.

It was a bit touch and go for a while though, as Bublik took control early before serving for the first set at 5-3.

And he had two set points too before King came up with a clutch forehand pass and watched as Bublik double-faulted to hand over the break.

King simply dominated thereafter, dropping just three points on serve for the rest of the match against a visibly-frustrated Bublik.

The Bajan ace promptly held serve at love and broke again for 6-5 when Bublik double-faulted once more on break point.

King quickly served out the set and then broke to start the second on the most gorgeous of outside-in forehand winners. (JM)