Aussie qualifiers close in on Wimbledon main draw
JOHN-Patrick Smith and Andrew Whittington are within touching distance of Wimbledon's main draw after reaching the final round of qualifying.
Smith wore down American Mackenzie McDonald 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 before Whittington impressively overhauled US journeyman Tim Smyczek 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-4.
Smith and Whittington will join Nick Kyrgios, Bernard Tomic, Thanasi Kokkinakis and John Millman if they can survive the last hurdle at Roehampton.
But Blake Mott and Alex de Minaur bowed out in the second round.
Australia's three female qualifying contenders, Lizette Cabrera, Arina Rodionova and Destanee Aiava, completed a first-round clean sweep.
Queenland's Cabrera beat Czech Tereza Smitkova 6-2 4-6 6-2, Rodionova upset Serb 24th seed Nina Stojanovic 6-3 6-4 while star teenager Aiava thrashed Briton Freya Christie 6-3 6-0.
