Winner of Selena Janicijevic, Léolia Jeanjean is the only Frenchwoman to have passed the obstacle of the Australian qualifications this year. Carole Monnet, Terence Atmane and Clément Chidekh fell.
There were several blue chances remaining in the final round of qualifying “Down Under”. But alone Léolia Jeanjean won the right to participate in the main draw of the 2025 Australian Open. On court 14, the 29-year-old Frenchwoman beat her compatriot Selena Janicijevic in a meeting concluded in two sets (6/3, 7/6[5]) but nevertheless “tense”.
“I held on until the end, the winner confided to our microphone. I didn’t play my best tennis, I was very tense, the ball was coming out of the racket moderately. I also tried to play it a little “physically”, not to give her the point, try to ensure that it was her who made the mistake and it worked in my favor.”
In three participations in qualifications, this is the third time that Léolia has reached the main draw in Melbourne (two qualifications, once lucky loser). She confirms her excellent end to the 2024 season, which saw her win the tournaments in Poitiers (W75) and Nantes (W50).
See the French draw at the Australian Open
Chidekh was so close…
The other French representatives did not have the same success. Carole Monnet fell in three tight rounds face to face against the Slovenian Tamara Zidansek (6/3, 5/7, 6/3).
Among the gentlemen, Clement Chidekh will have real regrets as he came so close to his first main draw. The TC Marignan player only gave in in the tie break of the 3rd set against the Lebanese Hady Habib (6/4, 3/6, 7/6[8]).
As for Térence Atmanehe did not find a solution against the number 28 seed, the Slovakian Lukas Klein (6/4, 6/1).
