Qualifier Inglis to splash out on toaster, kettle after Melbourne run / Photo: © AFP
Qualifier Inglis to splash out on toaster, kettle after Melbourne run
Plucky home qualifier Maddison Inglis plans to do a bit of shopping with her unexpected Australian Open windfall -- and a toaster and kettle top her wish list.
The 168th-ranked Australian was one of the feel-good stories of the Melbourne Grand Slam, coming through qualifying to reach the main draw.
She won her first two matches and then had a big stroke of luck when third-round opponent and two-time former champion Naomi Osaka pulled out injured.
That propelled the unheralded 28-year-old into the last 16 and what she called a "life-changing" paycheck of Aus$480,000 (US$330,000).
Inglis was well beaten on Monday on centre court by six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, 6-0, 6-3.
But she was all smiles, walking away with memories of a lifetime and the money to buy a few things long on her wish list.
"I'll definitely use a lot of it to invest back into my tennis," she said.
"I love shopping, so I'm sure I'll buy something nice. I've wanted a Smeg toaster for so long, so long.
"(But) I just was, like, no you can't do that.
"So I think that's going to be my treat, and maybe the kettle, too."
Inglis beamed and celebrated when she finally won a game in the second set against Swiatek.
Asked about the celebration, she said: "It's not every day you get to play on Rod Laver (Arena), so I was like, let's get the crowd involved and just kind of enjoy it."
I.al-Mahmood--BT
