World No.1 doubles star Storm Hunter has celebrated a huge milestone in her singles career at the Australian Open, reaching the third round of a grand slam for the first time.
It proved tougher than expected for the home hero, who is ranked 180th in singles, on Wednesday after being a break up in the second set before another lead in the third set vanished.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Storm Hunter moved by personal question after milestone win.
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But Hunter held strong to steal a 6-4 3-6 6-3 win over German world No.78 and occasional doubles rival Laura Siegemund inside John Cain Arena.
Hunter was just one point away from a 5-1 lead but missed out on the break, and Siegemund herself was soon one point away herself from levelling the third set at 4-4.
Siegemund, though, coughed up her chance with a long forehand — her 53rd unforced error of the match — that put Hunter back on the path to wrapping up victory.
Hunter beamed a proud smile as she celebrated under the roof of John Cain Arena in front of family, friends and a parochial home crowd.
The 29-year-old said she “never would have imagined” finally making the third round of a grand slam in singles at this point of her career.
Asked what message she had for her family and team in the box, Hunter’s emotions bubbled to the surface: “Oh, I’m gonna cry now.”
“They’ve all been here, obviously my parents from since I was young they always supported my dream,” she went on.
“My husband (Loughlin), we’ve been together for 10 years and he’s seen everything. Me when I was injured, not playing, no ranking.
“Pratty (coach Nicole Pratt), she’s been here since I was 17, she actually was the one who kind of believed in me from the beginning. She’s always backed me.
“To do this for her, it’s honestly amazing. She’s always been in my corner no matter what. I’m so lucky. She’s definitely the best coach on tour, I’m lucky I’ve got her in my corner.”
The first set was an unusual affair, with the first seven games all involving breaks of serve.
Hunter finally snapped the sequence in the eighth game, only for Siegemund to also hold for the first time.
But the Australian kept her nerve from 0-30 down in the 10th game, reeling off four straight points to take the opener 6-4.
Siegemund hit back hard in the second set, coming back from an early break down to force the contest into a decider.
The Australian grabbed the crucial final break in the eighth game of the decider and successfully served out the match in two hours and 21 minutes.
“Laura’s an amazing competitor,” Hunter said.
“I knew she wouldn’t go away and I was going to have to play my game and earn it. She wasn’t going to give me any freebies.”
Hunter’s third-round opponent will be Seigemund’s regular doubles partner Barbora Krejcikova from the Czech Republic, who made short work of Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch 6-2 6-2.
The impressive showing took place entirely under the roof inside John Cain Arena following a long spell of rain in Melboure.
