Australian Wildcard Taylah Preston Advances to First Top-Level Quarterfinal at Hobart International

Preston's Breakthrough Performance

Australian wildcard Taylah Preston has made a significant stride in her professional tennis career, reaching her first top-level quarterfinal at the Hobart International. The 20-year-old, currently ranked world No. 204, achieved this milestone by upsetting Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova, ranked world No. 72, in a dominant second-round performance on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Preston secured the victory with a convincing 6-4, 6-1 scoreline.

The match, held at the Domain Tennis Centre in Hobart, Tasmania, saw Preston display remarkable composure and an aggressive playing style. After dropping the opening game of the second set, Preston rallied to win six consecutive games, ultimately closing out the match.

A Wildcard's Journey and Strategic Play

Preston, who received a wildcard entry into the WTA 250 tournament, has been a notable presence throughout the event. Her win against Sramkova followed another impressive victory in the opening round against fifth-seed Jessica Bouzas Maneiro.

Reflecting on her performance, Preston emphasized her fearless approach. 'I just started thinking - don't worry about the score; every point, play it the same,' Preston stated. 'Don't think about the fact you just lost four games in a row.' She added, 'I'm lucky enough to have my family here this week. They were all super positive and just going, 'You know what to do'. I looked to them a little bit, just more for that reassurance. But ultimately I had to try and trust myself, that I know what is best to do.' She further elaborated on her strategy, saying, 'It's something that me and my coach have talked about, just playing fearless. With the way I play, I'm probably going to miss a few shots but just keep going for it and commit and trust what I'm doing.'

Looking Ahead to the Quarterfinals

This quarterfinal appearance marks a significant boost for Preston, who had a career-high ranking of No. 134 in 2024 but had fallen outside the top 200 before the start of the current season. Her success in Hobart provides valuable confidence and momentum for the rest of the year.

Preston is now set to face Grand Slam champion and top seed Emma Raducanu in the quarterfinals. Raducanu advanced after her second-round opponent, Magdalena Frech, withdrew due to injury. Preston expressed anticipation for the upcoming challenge, noting, 'It would be a really cool experience for me to test myself (against Raducanu). She's won a grand slam and is obviously a very, very good player.'