The 2024 tennis season has just kicked off with the first Grand slam event of the year; the Australian open. The singles draw started on the 14th of Jan, with the doubles on the 16th, and the mixed doubles tomorrow. Whilst many received positive draws that would allow them to make a deep run into the tournament, the British players were not so lucky! 17 Brits made it into the main draw but 6 of those lost in round one, and 9 of them had lost by round two (with a few who have not played yet).
British number 3, and world number 44, Sir Andy Murray was the first to be eliminated. He faced Argentinian and the 30th seed Thomás Martin Etchevery, a tough opener. Many people believed he could do it, however due to the last time he played in the Australian open, where he beat world number 13 Matteo Berrettini in a five hour epic. Murray played poor, and gave up a loose early break of serve, to allow Etcheverry to lead the match 1-0. Murray then found his form and broke immediately back. Murray seemed the better player for the majority of the opening set, where he worked to gain a break point in every one of Etcheverry’s service games. However, Etcheverry played some great points to prevent Murray breaking. At 4-4, Murray then played another loose game, where he was broken. This time he could not pull it back, set one Etcheverry, 6-4. From there, the match went downhill for Murray, he played a shaky set and lost it to a double break. The third set went more-or-less down the same path, and whilst his tennis did improve, Etcheverry won 6-4 6-2 6-2. Murray looked upset to be leaving the court with a poor loss, but gave a long wave to the Aussie crowd and showed his love.
Sadly, in the post-match press conference, Murray did reveal that there was a possibility that that match may have been his last at the open…
Murray was the only Brit to feature on the Monday, but the 16th had some good matches for the Brits.
British number 4, Jack Draper, an ‘on-the-rise superstar,’ was to face American Marcos Giron. Draper outplayed the American in the first set to win it 6-4, but fell of slightly in the next. Before he knew it, Draper found himself 2 sets two 1 down. The match stood at 6-4 3-6 4-6. Draper then faced 2 break points on his opening service game in the 4th, but played spectacular tennis to fight through and hold. Coming of the momentum of the hold, Draper the dominated the set to win it 6 games to love! Draper was struggling physically with the first 5-setter he has played. He pushed through physically and won the match 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-0 6-2. Draper ran to the net to shake hands, leaned far over the net to shake Giron’s hand quickly, then ran to a bin and threw up multiple times! A good win for him, but came with a price.
More promising aspects came in the doubles, with Joe Salisbury, Neal Skupski, Lloyd Glasspool all taking straight set wins, and Henry Patten winning in a 3rd set tie-breaker.
In the woman’s draw, strong first round wins came for former US open champion, Emma Raducanu. Playing just her third math in almost a year, and fresh off a wrist surgery, Emma played great tennis and stormed past American Shelby Rodgers. Female British number one, Katie Boulter took here first Australian open victory in 5 years, in a comfortable straight set victory. After serving a double-fault on her first match point, she re-grouped and won 7-5 7-6 against Chinese Yuan Yue. Boulter faced another Chinese opponent, but this time a high seed. Qinwen Zheng, a strong server on the WTA tour beat the Brit in straights 6-3 6-3.
The woman’s doubles was a miserable array, with Heather Watson, Katie Boulter and Lumsden all being knocked out in round one. The Woman’s side of the draw for GB has been delt a heavy blow, as every British woman has been knocked out of the draw other than S. Murray, who will play her doubles round 1 tomorrow.
The mixed doubles draw is looking strong, with Neal Skupski and his partner, being the number 2 seeds, and one of the favourites to win the title. We wish luck to the Brits that are still competing, and back Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram (USA) to win the title, like many have predicted them to.
By Charlie Yr9
Carre’s Grammar School, Sleaford
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very good mate