Jason Kubler has hot-footed it to Spain from England, hoping to use his first grass-court title as the springboard to another successful assault on Wimbledon.
Fresh from winning the Ilkley Trophy in Yorkshire, Kubler has jetted out to join a group of his fellow Australian hopefuls on the Spanish island of Mallorca for their last warm-up tournament before Wimbledon.
One of them, Chris O’Connell, a recent quarter-finalist in Stuttgart, didn’t last long in Sunday’s opening round, being beaten by Frenchman Corentin Moutet 7-5 6-4.
Kubler, buoyed to make his breakthrough triumph at a smaller second-tier Challenger event in Ilkley on Saturday, will take his Mallorca bow against another Frenchman Constant Lestienne on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old from Brisbane, who beat in-form Austrian Sebastian Ofner, the tournament’s top seed, 6-4 6-4 in the Ilkley final, feels ready for another good run at Wimbledon after reaching the last-16 there last year.
“It feels special, a first grass-court title,” said Kubler.
“To get a lot of matches going into Wimbledon has been the main goal and getting the wins here has made it a bit more special.
“Leading into Wimbledon, I’m definitely feeling comfortable on the surface, and hopefully I can keep playing good tennis.”
Kubler, the former world junior No.1, has enjoyed a second straight impressive season after years of injury woes, and will jump more than 20 places in the rankings to No.74 after his first tournament win in 2023.
Even without Nick Kyrgios, who had also been due to compete on the Spanish island but pulled out with continuing concerns over a knee problem that threatens his Wimbledon participation, the Aussie challenge in Mallorca is strong.
Max Purcell, whose dramatic rise this year now makes him the national No.3 behind Kyrgios and Queen’s finalist Alex de Minaur, will play 41-year old Spanish luminary Feliciano Lopez, who will be making the final home appearance of his career on his farewell tour.
On Monday, Sydney's Jordan Thompson will continue his fine grass-court season against another veteran, Frenchman Richard Gasquet, while Adelaide's Li Tu , a 27 year-old qualifier, will play lucky loser Pavel Kotov.
There was more success for veteran Australian John Peers, who partnered by Brazil's Marcelo Melo, won the doubles title in Halle on Sunday, beating Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 [10-6] in the final.
