Competing in the Japan Women's Open Tennis Championships, Hives, 22, battled through two tough match-ups to qualify for the main draw before upsetting fourth seeded Anastasia Potapova in three sets.

After dropping the first set in a tie-breaker, Hives rallied, taking the second and third sets 6-4, winning the match in just under three hours.

Hives took advantage of errors from Potapova, who finished the match with 15 double faults.

Hives' next match-up will be against local favourite from Japan Misaki Doi, who won her own three set contest with fellow Japanese athlete Junri Namigata. Doi, 28, and Hives have never faced each other.

A win at the championships would see Hives follow in the footsteps of fellow Australian Sam Stosur, who has won the event three times since 2009.

The Courier