Storm Hunter blows away Laura Siegemund in emotional Australian Open breakthrough

The tears welled in the eyes of Storm Hunter not once, but twice, as she spoke about reaching the third round of a grand slam singles draw for the first time at the Australian Open on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old Australian had just ousted German warrior Laura Siegemund in a captivating struggle over 141 minutes on John Cain Arena, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Hunter had overcome nervous double faults, overzealous forehands, and the scars of more than a decade of pursuing tennis at the highest level.

So when on-court interviewer and former player Jelena Dokic asked her to reflect on her journey in reaching that point, it was no surprise Hunter’s eyes turned red.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t have imagined it and I’m just so grateful,” she said. “I honestly didn’t think I’d be standing here and doing that and being in the third round. It’s a dream come true.”

The dream had seemed a long way off just minutes before, as Hunter struggled to put away the fiery German. Siegemund has a career-high ranking of 27, and beat world number 14 Liudmila Samsonova in Adelaide in a lead-up event.

“Laura is an amazing competitor,” Hunter said. “I knew she wouldn’t go away and I was going to have to play my game and she wasn’t gonna give me any freebies.”

In the third set, Hunter regained the momentum lost minutes earlier and broke serve to go up 3-1. But with a career high point for the Melbourne-based Queenslander (with close ties to Perth) within reach, things only seem to get more difficult.

Storm Hunter fights back in the third set of her round two victory over Laura Siegemund in the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

The German – who has completed a psychology degree and been camped inside the top 100 for most the past decade – presented a formidable challenge for the Australian. Like Hunter, she is an elite doubles player and is currently ranked five in the world – four behind the Australian world No 1.

The difference in singles rankings is huge: Hunter’s 180 a result of prioritising doubles last year, and a long way below Siegemund 78. True to those numbers, the German came again, and had a game point to make it 4-4.

But in her hour of need, Hunter turned to attack. She ripped two forehands to force errors from the German to go up 5-3, before securing the most significant singles win of her career one game later.

“I got over the line because of the crowd,” Hunter said on court afterwards. “You guys were amazing, you really pulled me through.”

Hunter’s path to victory was unusual. She lost her first three service games, but broke her opponent’s first four, eventually taking the first set 6-4. The Australian took a service game off Siegemund again in the second set, but when a victory was in sight, Hunter fell victim to the German’s revival.

Ahead of the deciding set, the intensity inside Melbourne Park’s “People’s Court” reached a crescendo, and the 10,000 fans present were desperate for the affable Australian to rediscover her verve.

Despite the hiccups, she got there, and in her moment of triumph Hunter’s joy was obvious. After shaking her opponent’s hand, that infectious grin broke out as she skipped and twirled in recognition of the crowd.

Afterwards, Hunter had more tears for her family and long-time coach Nicole Pratt.

“I’m going to cry now,” Hunter said. “My parents, from since I was young, always supported my dream. And my husband, we’ve been together for 10 years and he’s seen everything: me when I was injured, not playing, no ranking.

“And Pratty, she’s been here since I was 17. She actually was the one who believed in me from the beginning and she’s always backed me, and to do this for her as well, it’s honestly amazing.”

In return, Pratt’s smile sparkled with her own tears. Across Australia, she wasn’t the only one.