Arina Rodionova loses wildcard final day after wedding
Sunday 20 December 2015 15:46, UK
Arina Rodionova tied the knot but failed to secure a place in the main draw of next month's Australian Open.
Rodionova was handed a straight sets defeat by teenager Maddison Inglis in the wildcard play-off final a day after getting married to Aussie rules player Ty Vickery.
The Russian-born Australian battled back from a set down to win her semi-final in oppressive heat on Saturday before rushing off to her wedding.
However, the 26-year-old appeared physically drained during Sunday's final as she slumped to her third straight defeat in an Australian Open play-off decider.
Fellow Australian Inglis booked her place in the Melbourne tournament just a week after narrowly missing out in the final of the U18 Australian Championships.
"I was exhausted after the 18s, just mentally and physically. I don't know - I got through it," said 17-year-old Inglis.
"I'm so happy right now. I actually can't believe it still. I was so nervous during that whole second set - I can't believe I got through it, to be honest."
Earlier, James Duckworth was handed a walkover in the men's wildcard final after Ben Mitchell made a mad dash to Brisbane to be with his partner for the birth of their first child.
