MELBOURNE, Australia — Florida Women’s Tennis was well-represented at the 2026 Australian Open this January as three former Gators set their sights on a grand slam title—McCartney Kessler<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/326678/mccartney-kessler> ’22 in the singles and doubles championship, and Ingrid Neel<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/322489/ingrid-neel> ’17 and Anna Danilina<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/319731/anna-danilina> ’18 on the doubles side, albeit on separate teams.
Danilina and her partner, Aleksandra Krunic<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/316344/aleksandra-krunic>, entered the Open as the seven seed, and have advanced to the Round of 16 having dispatched with Quinn Gleason<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/319413/quinn-gleason> and Elena Pridankina<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/330905/elena-pridankina> 7-5, 4-6, 6-0<https://www.wtatennis.com/tournaments/australian-open/scores/LD67893848> in the First Round and Daria Kasatkina<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/322082/daria-kasatkina> and Arina Rodionova<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/312413/arina-rodionova> 6-3, 6-4<https://www.wtatennis.com/tournaments/australian-open/scores/LD67775768> in the Round of 32. They next take on Storm Hunter<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/317810/storm-hunter> and Maya Joint<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/330544/maya-joint> on Sunday evening, January 25<https://www.wtatennis.com/tournaments/australian-open/scores/LD67775742>.
Kessler picked up a 6-3, 6-2 victory<https://www.wtatennis.com/tournaments/australian-open/scores/LS67816704> over Emilana Arango<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/324789/emiliana-arango> in her First Round singles match, but dropped a 6-0, 6-3 decision to six-seed Jessica Pegula<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/316956/jessica-pegula> in the Round of 64. Coincidentally, Pegula is Kessler’s doubles partner. The duo squared off against five-seed Gabriela Dabrowski<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/314445/gabriela-dabrowski> and Luisa Stefani<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/321047/luisa-stefani> in the First Round, falling 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)<https://www.wtatennis.com/tournaments/australian-open/scores/LD67893832>.
Neel and Ulrikke Elkeri<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/315314/ulrikke-eikeri> also fell in the first Round, 7-5, 6-3<https://www.wtatennis.com/tournaments/australian-open/scores/LD67893818> to Iva Jovic<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/332285/iva-jovic> and Victoria Mboko<https://www.wtatennis.com/players/331006/victoria-mboko>.
