2022 Australian Open: Day 11 wrap

by Val Febbo on June 21, 2022

It was a dark day for the defending women’s pairs champions at the Australian Open, who were bundled out alongside some other big names on the eleventh day of the $254,000 tournament.

Lynsey Clarke and Kelsey Cottrell were ousted in an epic contest against the young Queensland duo of Rebecca Rixon and Jessie Cottell in the round of 16.

It went down to the final end but the 2021 winners fell short in the 15-13 scoreline.

Rixon and Cottell would advance through to the semi-finals of the tournament, after defeating Debra Quick and Melanie L’Estrange in the quarter-finals to set up a clash with New Zealand’s Paris Baker and Olivia Bloomfield.

Jackaroos pair Ellen Ryan and Kristina Krstic have also progressed to the semi-finals, after dropping just 26 shots for the afternoon.

Their day was highlighted by an emphatic 21-7 win over fellow Australian squad members of Genevieve Delves and Natasha Van Eldik before emerging victorious over Alison Venn and Charmayne Sleeman in the quarter-finals.

Ryan and Krstic will meet Wendy Wilson and Tris Doolan in the final four.

In the men’s pairs, Ben Twist and Aaron Wilson stamped their authority on the draw, with two emphatic wins, including a 22-9 quarterfinal victory over Barrie Lester and Corey Wedlock.

The pair will meet Wayne Hutson and Jackaroo Matt Lucas in the semi-final following their hardly fought win over Jake Rynne and Sean Baker in the final eight.

In the top half of the draw, Victorians Brett Spurr and Ben Winther have booked passage to the semi-finals with two brilliant victories over the Beau Prideaux and Carl Healey combination along with the Josh Walker-Davis and Josh Appleyard duo.

One of the upsets of the day came in the round of 16, where semi-finalists Mark Armstrong and Nick Gosley overcame Aaron Teys and Aron Sherriff 19-11 in the morning contest, before defeating Glen Clinckett and Kobe Barton in the quarters.

The Over-60s pairs sectional rounds concluded today, with both men’s and women’s defending champions finishing second in their respective groups for mixed fortunes.

2021 men’s winners Max Jaffray and Neville Jenkins would progress as next best qualifiers in their event, while Maree Gibbs and Sue Brady would be eliminated after finishing second in their section.

You can view the Over 60’s men’s pairs draw here.

You can view the Over 60’s women’s pairs draw here.