IRELAND’S NUMBER ONE tennis player, James McGee, is on the verge of qualifying for his second career Grand Slam.
The 28-year-old has safely negotiated the first two qualifying hurdles at the Australian Open, his latest victory coming over Moldovan Radu Albot overnight.
McGee will now face big-serving German Daniel Brands tomorrow as he looks to secure a place in the main draw at Melbourne Park for the first time.
The Dubliner, currently ranked 199th in the world, qualified for the first round of the US Open in 2014 but suffered defeat to Aleksandr Nedovyesov.
McGee recovered from a shaky start on Friday to seal a 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory in sizzling temperatures in Melbourne.
If he can win his third game in the space of a week, McGee will follow in the steps of Louk Sorensen by qualifying for the first Grand Slam of the year.
The Australian Open begins on 18 January.
– First published 07.54
