Former semi-finalist Lucic books Wimbledon return
A scream of jubilation punctuated former Wimbledon semi-finalist Mirjana Lucic's final round qualifying triumph as the heavy-hitting Croatian booked a return to the main draw.
While it is a long way from her dream run as a 17-year-old at The All England Club in 1999, it clearly meant a lot to the player now ranked No.129 in the world.
"It was a little bit of happiness, relief, everything," the 30-year-old told Wimbledon.com of her post-match yell for joy after beating Bibiane Schoofs of The Netherlands 7-5, 6-4.
"I was one out of main draw so I almost didn't have to play qualies. When I figured out I wasn't in the main draw I took it as a challenge but also as really good practice.
"I played against really tough opponents today and yesterday against (Gisela) Dulko, a great player as well.
"She (Schoofs) was playing unbelievable first set, I didn't even feel like I was playing bad but yeah, I saved three set points and I'm really happy about that; I was able to win in two."
While Lucic has won just one match at Wimbledon since her semi-final run 13 years ago, she admits she still feels most comfortable on the grass at SW19.
"I just love it. It's so beautiful and it's the most important, one of the best tournaments there is. I mean, it is the top of everything in tennis so I always get so excited when I come back," she said.
Ladies' Qualifying top seed Melinda Czink also made a return to the main draw after her 6-3, 6-2 dismissal of Russian Marta Sirotkina in her final match.
Czink has struggled with a lower back injury and a drop in form to see her ranking slide outside the top 100, and despite edging back up to 97th after the cut-off date for Wimbledon's main draw direct entries, she was not one to look at herself as the unluckiest player forced to tough it out in qualifying.
"Yeah some might see it like that. I'd say lucky," the former world No.37 said.
"I'm really happy. It's been tough. These three matches were really hard but I think it's the best preparation for the grass to go into the main draw from the qualies, playing three matches.
"Most girls are practising and get as much time in as they can get, especially with the rain, and I just had three matches."
Czink will now look to emulate her run to the third round at Wimbledon last year where she upset Samantha Stosur in the first round.
"That is my biggest win," she said. "I'm hoping for the best now."
In other final round Ladies' Qualifying matches, there were a string of upsets with Maria Elena Camerin of Italy beating 13th seed Claire Aurelle Feuerstein, Poland's Sandra Zaniewska downing fifth seed Sesil Karatancheva of Kazakhstan, France's Kristina Mladenovic beating Japanese fourth seed Misaki Doi, American Coco Vandeweghe edging Spaniard Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino and Italian Camila Giorgi ending American Alexa Glatch's run.
