The tournament is part of the International Tennis Federation schedule, with the 15-year-old given an invitation after her performance at a Melbourne hardcourt event.
She received a wildcard entry into the tournament last week to participate in the qualifying rounds of the event on Wednesday and Thursday this week after her results at Williamstown’s 2021 Victorian Hardcourt UTR Matchplay.
She has a universal tennis rating of 8.56, which has her among the top juniors for her age in Victoria.
The Moama Anglican Grammar Year 10 student turned 15 in December and now competes in the 16 years and open events.
She is the daughter of decorated Rich River tennis player/coach Andrew and Sarah Crossman, The Riv’s own community relations manager.
She travelled to Traralgon for the event fresh from wins in successive weeks at the Shepparton open tournament and the Horsham based inter-regional country event, which involves all 11 country regions.
She won the open women’s title at Horsham, beating top seed Eliza Long from Shepparton. A week earlier, in Shepparton, Crossman was beaten by Geelong’s Nicole Mullen in the semi-final.
She then beat Mullen at Horsham in the semi-final of the open women’s, before defeating Long for the first time in the final of the inter-regional event.
The Traralgon event attracts players from around the world, Crossman involved in the girls Under-18 event, which included players from Japan, Germany, Italy and the United States, among others.
Traralgon is used by many players as a warm up tournament for the main junior draw for the Australian Open.
Crossman was drawn against fellow Australian Madison Schwarz in the opening round, which she won in a three set contest 4-6, 6-4, 10-5 (super tie breaker).
In order to qualify for the main draw at Traralgon Crossman needed to win two rounds, but stumbled at the second hurdle against another Australian Tianyu Dong — ranked 358th in the world for junior girls.
She lost the match 4-6, 2-6. This was her second ITF tournament, but her first J1 tournament — which is the highest level she can compete at aside from events such as the Australian open.
She will return to Echuca for the weekend’s Goulburn Murray Lawn Tennis Association round with Rich River, before jetting off again to compete in the Yarrawonga All Stars Tennis event.
She is the top seed in the open women’s event at Yarrawonga.
The week following Yarrawonga Crossman is hoping to contest a J3 ITF tournament.
Last year she won all three 18 years and under events at the inter-regional event, which was held in Warrnambool.
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