Storm Sanders

Sanders began her year ranked 674 in the world. Her first tournament was the Apia International Sydney, where she received a wildcard into qualifying. She stunned Eugenie Bouchard in the first round in two tiebreak sets, but lost in the second round against Misaki Doi. Sanders then received a wildcard into qualifying at the Australian Open where she lost in the first round against Yuliya Beygelzimer. In February, after failing to qualify for the McDonald's Burnie International, Sanders celebrated a breakthrough victory, winning the $25,000 Launceston Tennis International tournament.[3][4] She won through both, the qualifying and main draws, without dropping a set. She also achieved the rare feat of defeating the top seeds in both the qualifying draw (Mari Tanaka) and the main draw (Olivia Rogowska) en route to victory. Sanders reached the top 500 in the WTA rankings for the first time after the tournament win. A month later, she reached the final of the $25,000 event in Ipswich, Queensland, losing to Jelena Pandžić in three sets.[5]

In July, together with her British partner Naomi Broady, Sanders won the $50,000 Gold River Women's Challenger, defeating Robin Anderson and Lauren Embree in straight sets.[6]

In US Open qualifying, Sanders lost in the first round to Uzbekistan's Nigina Abduraimova.[7]

Sanders began the season at the Brisbane International, after receiving a wild card into qualifying. She opened with a three set win over Irina-Camelia Begu.[8] Although taking the opening set, Sanders lost against third seed Hsieh Su-wei in three sets in the second round.

The following week, Sanders was awarded a wild card to the main draw of the Hobart International. A first-round win over Peng Shuai[9] saw her match up with second seed Kirsten Flipkens in the second round. Pushing the top-20 ranked Belgian to the brink, Sanders lost in a tough three set match, lasting over two and a half hours.[10] Despite the close loss, it was announced that Sanders had been given a wildcard into the singles main draw of the Australian Open,[11] having been given wild cards for the doubles draw the previous two years. She played Camila Giorgi in round one, losing on her Grand Slam singles debut in three sets.[12] She also lost in the first round of women's and mixed doubles.

Given a wild card for the Hobart International,[13] Sanders lost in round one to Camila Giorgi in three sets. She was then given a wild card for the Australian Open, but lost at the first stage again, this time to world No. 46 Klára Koukalová in straight sets.[14]

In July, she qualified for the Jiangxi International - the first time Sanders has come through qualifying at a WTA-level event.[15]