Last Australian woman standing after Australian Open victory over Laura Siegemund

For three years, Maddison Inglis couldn’t get into the main draw of a grand slam.

She was unable to crack into the top 100, wasn’t receiving wildcards and was stuck battling her way through qualifying, where she would often fall at the final hurdle.

But now, Inglis is Australia’s last hope in the women’s singles, after she booked herself a spot in the third round with a gutsy win against German world No.48 Laura Siegemund.

Siegemund managed to save two of four match points in a tense deciding set tie-break on Thursday, before an overhead, cross-court backhand winner from Inglis secured victory.

The 28-year-old, who battled for three hours and 20 minutes, collapsed on court and broke down in tears as the crowd erupted inside ANZ Arena.

In a post-match interview, Inglis said she was lost for words and thanked the crowd for their unwavering support.

“As soon as I walked out there [the court] it was full,” Inglis said. “I know it’s such an electric court, but I was not expecting that many people to be there for my match.

“So grateful that I got to play out there and to have everyone’s support was incredible.”

It was a game of mental strength as much as physical, as Inglis came up against an opponent known for her mind games.

Siegemund – a trained psychologist – has mastered the art of keeping her opponents waiting.

She takes her time between games, she takes her time on serve and she keeps her opponents waiting when they’re ready to serve.

Finally, at 5-5 in the second set, Siegemund was given a time violation warning by chair umpire Alison Hughes.

There was also a fiery exchange between Hughes and Siegemund when Inglis was 40-15 up at 5-5 in the second set with Siegemund on serve.

The German sent a serve blistering down the court before Inglis was ready.

Siegemund was given another first serve and made to replay the point.

“So if she’s not ready, it’s OK?” asked an incredulous Siegemund.

“It’s unbelievable. And if I don’t serve [on time], you give me a missed serve.”

It only fired Siegemund up more, and while Inglis got the break, Siegemund broke back when the Australian was serving for the set.

It sent the second set into a tie-break, where Siegemund took control.

On set point, she sent a lob up, drawing Inglis into the net, before she eventually closed out the set with a backhand winner across the court to send the match to a deciding set.

But even when Inglis was down a break in the third, with Siegemund serving for the match, the Australian never gave up hope.

The crowd rallied behind their Australian, and roared when Inglis got the late break to level it at 5-5 in the third, before the set eventually went to a 10-point tiebreak.

Inglis surged ahead in the tie-break, and while Siegemund was able to save two of four Inglis’ four points, the Australian sealed victory and booked herself a third round meeting with either Naomi Osaka or Sorana Cirstea.

It means Inglis is Australia’s only woman through to the third round of the singles draw, after Taylah Preston lost her second round match 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 to Czech No.13 seed Linda Noskova in front of a packed crowd.

After dropping the first set, Preston rallied and took the second, but the 20-year-old wildcard ran out of juice in the third.

In a post-match interview, Preston said many of Australia’s female tennis players were “pushing and getting super close” to breaking through at their home slam.

“I think it was the most [women] through to a second round in 30 years or something, which is incredible,” she said.

“I’m so happy for all the girls … but I think it just makes us want to keep pushing and try to break through to that next level.”

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