MELBOURNE, Australia — Florida Women’s Tennis was well-represented at the 2026 Australian Open this January as three former Gators set their sights on a grand slam title—McCartney Kessler ’22 in the singles and doubles championship, and Ingrid Neel ’17 and Anna Danilina ’18 on the doubles side, albeit on separate teams.
 
Danilina and her partner, Aleksandra Krunic, entered the Open as the seven seed, and have advanced to the Round of 16 having dispatched with Quinn Gleason and Elena Pridankina 7-5, 4-6, 6-0 in the First Round and Daria Kasatkina and Arina Rodionova 6-3, 6-4 in the Round of 32. They next take on Storm Hunter and Maya Joint on Sunday evening, January 25.
 
Kessler picked up a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Emilana Arango in her First Round singles match, but dropped a 6-0, 6-3 decision to six-seed Jessica Pegula in the Round of 64. Coincidentally, Pegula is Kessler’s doubles partner. The duo squared off against five-seed Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani in the First Round, falling 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
 
Neel and Ulrikke Elkeri also fell in the first Round, 7-5, 6-3 to Iva Jovic and Victoria Mboko.