DARIAN KING is moving on.
Barbados’ top-ranked tennis pro has advanced to the second round of qualifying at the year’s first Grand Slam after beating rival Jose Hernandez in straight sets at the Australian Open.
Playing on court 15, the 24-year-old King, ranked 145 in the tennis world, strolled to a routine 6-2, 6-2 first-round win over Hernandez in 51 relatively easy minutes.
So dominant was King’s performance, the Bajan ace didn’t even face a single break point while breaking Hernadez twice in each set, including his first two service games of the second set.
It was his fourth straight win over Hernandez and third successive first-round victory at Grand Slam qualifying following wins at last year’s Wimbledon and US Open qualifying rounds.
King is slated to face the winner of a later match between American Denis Kudla and hometown boy Luke Saville. (JM)