Jaimee Fourlis wins Australian Open wildcard

After narrowly missing out on the Australian Under 18-title to Destanee Aiava last year, Australian teen Jaimee Fourlis battled her way past Aiava this year to get into the main draw of next month’s Australian Open.

"Destanee's an incredible player," Fourlis said. "I knew she was going to come out firing. I had a great game plan and I can say I executed it pretty well."

The 18-year-old needed to be gutsy in a nearly three-and-a-half hour 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 victory over Aiava under the summer sun at Melbourne Park.

It’s been quite the last 12 months for Fourlis, currently ranked No. 332 in the world. The Melbourne native won the Australian Open Wildcard Playoff last year before winning her Grand Slam main draw debut over Anna Tatishvili.

After receiving another wildcard for the French Open, Fourlis took a set off of former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in the first round.

"That experience, and winning a round, and playing a great match at the French against Wozniacki, it definitely does build and you get more confidence. I’ve got nothing to lose," Fourlis said. "I’ll be one of the lowest-ranked players in the draw. I’m going to enjoy it. I have a Grand Slam in my backyard, I train here every day so it’s unbelievable just to play in one."

Now, 17-year-old Aiava faces the same situation Fourlis found herself in a year ago. The world No. 153 will play in this week’s Australian Open Wildcard Playoff in hopes of securing a main-draw wildcard.

Besides Fourlis’ wildcard, another Australian Open wildcard was also awarded earlier to China's Wang Xinyu for winning the Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff. The Australian Open qualifying begins on January 10, with main-draw action kicking off on January 15.

Follow Thomas on Twitter @thomas_cluck917.