Georgia Drummy paved the way for Irish juniors in Melbourne on Thursday as she qualified for her first career Grand Slam. At 15 she is one of the youngest players involved in the maindraw for the junior Australian Open.

She defeated Helen Abigail Altick (USA) who has an ITF junior ranking of 105. Drummy (ranked 220th in the world) dominated the match from the start, taking the first set 6-2.

Both players exchanged a break in the second, Drummy then broke at 5-5 after a record game which seemed to go on forever.

Altick broke again to tie the set at 6-6. Drummy however controlled the tie-break from the start and closed it out 7-2, sealing the victory in straight sets 6-2 7-6(2) .

This was Drummy’s first time playing in a tennis major, and she’s now become the youngest Irish player to qualify for a Grand Slam event - earning herself a place in the main draw.

A well-deserved prize for a girl who has been ahead of her years in Irish tennis for some time.