By Tony Fairbairn
- Cameron Norrie found his form again in Australia after a frustrating 2023 season but how did the other Brits fare at the start of the 2024 season?
- Men’s Singles: Cameron Norrie [19], Dan Evans, Andy Murray, Jack Draper, Jan Choinski, Oliver Crawford, Billy Harris, Ryan Peniston
- Women’s Singles: Katie Boulter, Jodie Burrage, Emma Raducanu, Francesca Jones, Yuriko Lily Miyazaki, Harriet Dart, Heather Watson
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Cameron Norrie rediscovered his form in Australia but how did the other Brits fare in the opening month of the season?
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An improved start to the season for Cameron Norrie as he reached the second week of the Australian Open for the first time in his career with some aggressive tennis. There was also a gutsy effort from Jack Draper who backed up his Adelaide final with two gutsy performances. On the women’s side Katie Boulter produced a solid display against eventual finalist Qinwen Zheng while Emma Raducanu made a good return to the tour with some much-needed time on the match court. Now it’s time to assess how the rest of the Brits did and how they shape up heading into the next few months of the season.
Men’s Singles
Cameron Norrie [16]
A very positive start to the season for Norrie with some notable wins over Alex De Minaur and Casper Ruud. The Brit’s improved aggression and regular approaches to the net means there are plenty of positives heading into the next few months as he has plenty of points to defend in South America.
2024 Results So Far:
United Cup:
- Round Robin: Alex De Minaur 6-4 2-6 7-6(2)
- Round Robin: Taylor Fritz 6-7(5) 4-6
ATP Auckland:
- R2: Luca Van Assche 6-3 6-7(6) 6-1
- QF: Alejandro Tabilo – Withdrew
Australian Open:
- R1: Juan Pablo Varillas 6-4 6-4 6-2
- R2: Giulio Zeppieri 3-6 6-7(4) 6-2 6-4 6-4
- R3: Casper Ruud 6-4 6-7(7) 6-4 6-3
- R4: Alexander Zverev 5-7 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-7(3-10)
Dan Evans
Dan Evans produced a hard-fought performance at the Australian Open but his lack of match practice towards the end of last year saw him lose in the opening round. Now Evans will look to play more matches as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury that he suffered in October last year.
2024 Results So Far:
ATP Adelaide:
- R1: Rinky Hijikata 6-3 6-4
- R2: Alexander Bublik 6-4 2-6 1-6
Australian Open:
- R1: Lorenzo Sonego 6-4 6-7(8) 2-6 6-7(4)
Andy Murray
A disheartening start to the season for Andy Murray as he hinted that this year could be his last season on the tour. Now Murray will look to regain motivation as he will look to improve his form ahead of his potential Wimbledon swansong.
2024 Results So Far:
ATP Brisbane:
- R1: Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 5-7 2-6
Australian Open:
- R1: Tomas Martin Etcheverry 4-6 2-6 2-6
Jack Draper
An incredible start to the season for Draper as he reached his second consecutive tour final in Adelaide. A valiant effort from Draper means his fitness and form is heading in the right direction ahead of what is a crucial season for the Brit in terms of conditioning and consistency.
2024 Results So Far:
ATP Adelaide:
- R1: Sebastian Baez 6-1 6-3
- R2: Miomir Kecmanovic 5-7 7-6(9) 7-6(7)
- QF: Tommy Paul 6-1 6-4
- SF: Alexander Bublik 7-6(2) 6-4
- Final: Jiri Lehecka 6-4 4-6 3-6
Australian Open:
- R1: Marcos Giron 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-0 6-2
- R2: Tommy Paul 2-6 6-3 3-6 5-7
Jan Choinski
Jan Choinski has suffered a couple of tough losses to start the season and will now look to rectify that ahead of the clay court season later this year.
2024 Results So Far:
ATP Hong Kong:
- QR1: Zizou Bergs 6-2 6-2
- QR2: Taro Daniel 4-6 6-3 4-6
Australian Open:
- QR1: Benjamin Hassan 4-6 0-6
Ottignes-Louvain-la-Nueve Challenger:
- R1: Antoine Escoffier 6-3 7-6(6)
- R2: Adrian Andreev 7-6(6) 6-1
- QF: Brandon Nakashima 1-6 7-6(5) 5-7
Oliver Crawford
Oliver Crawford’s start to British representation has started well as he nearly qualified for the main draw of the Australian Open. Now Crawford will look to continue his good performances as he aims for a place inside the world’s top 200.
2024 Results So Far:
Australian Open:
- QR1: Ilya Ivashka 6-3 3-6 6-1
- QR2: Francesco Passaro 6-4 6-7(7) 6-4
- QR3: Vit Kopriva 4-6 4-6
ITF Bhopal:
- R1: Karan Singh 6-7(2) 6-4 6-2
- R2: Mitsuki Wei Kang Leong 6-3 3-6 6-1
- QF: Aryan Shah 6-3 6-4
- SF: Eric Vanshelboim 6-1 6-7(2) 6-4
- Final: Bogdan Bobrov – Withdrew
Billy Harris
Billy Harris has produced incredible performances to start the season as he has dominated on serve. Now Harris will look to translate performances into results as he continues his rise up the rankings.
2024 Results So Far:
Australian Open:
- QR1: Dimitar Kuzmanov 0-6 6-2 6-2
- QR2: David Goffin 6-3 2-6 2-6
Nonthaburi 3 Challenger:
- R1: Benjamin Hassan 6-7(3) 1-6
Quimper Challenger:
- R1: Constant Lestienne 7-6(4) 7-6(2)
- R2: Mathias Bourgue 6-4 6-7(5) 3-6
Ryan Peniston
Ryan Peniston couldn’t continue his good form from last year into Australia as the Brit failed to qualify for the Australian Open. Now Peniston will look for more wins on the Challenger circuit as he looks to continue his steady progress from the last 12 months.
2024 Results So Far:
ATP Brisbane:
- QR1: Maxime Cressy 4-6 4-6
Australian Open:
- QR1: Elias Ymer 6-1 4-6 7-6(10-7)
- QR2: Aziz Dougaz 3-6 2-6
Nonthaburi 3 Challenger:
- R1: Gijs Brouwer 6-3 6-1
- R2: Tung-Lin Wu 6-3 7-6(5)
- QF: Jason Jung 4-6 3-6
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Women’s Singles
Katie Boulter
It’s been an incredible start to the season for Boulter having gained her first win against a top five opponent of her career as well as winning her first match at the Australian Open for five years. Now Boulter will look to continue her aggressive start to the season as she looks to make more gains up the rankings.
2024 Results So Far:
United Cup:
- Round Robin: Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2 6-4
- Round Robin: Jessica Pegula 5-7 6-4 6-4
WTA Adelaide:
- QR1: Alycia Parks 6-4 5-7 6-0
- QR2: Ashlyn Krueger 7-6(1) 6-1
- R1: Ana Bogdan 3-6 4-6
Australian Open:
- R1: Yue Yuan 7-5 7-6(1)
- R2: Qinwen Zheng 3-6 3-6
Jodie Burrage
Jodie Burrage will look to gain confidence over the next few months after a poor start to the season as Burrage aims to build on a positive year last season with the Brit making her top 100 debut.
2024 Results So Far:
Canberra Challenger:
- R1: Astra Sharma 6-2 6-4
- R2: Anna Bondar 4-6 6-3 3-6
WTA Hobart:
- QR1: Camila Osorio 3-6 4-6
Australian Open:
- R1: Tamara Korpatsch 2-6 6-3 6-0
Emma Raducanu
A positive comeback to tennis for Raducanu as the former US Open champion returned to competition for the first time in nine months. After several long matches, Raducanu will look to continue to build up her conditioning ahead of the European summer tournaments.
2024 Results So Far:
WTA Auckland:
- R1: Elena Gabriela Ruse 6-3 4-6 7-5
- R2: Elina Svitolina 7-6(5) 6-7(3) 1-6
Australian Open:
- R1: Shelby Rogers 6-3 6-2
- R2: Yafan Wang 4-6 6-4 4-6
Francesca Jones
A devastating setback for Francesca Jones at the Australian Open as she will look to overcome another injury as the Brit looks to rediscover her momentum after a torturous last couple of years.
2024 Results So Far:
Australian Open:
- R1: Margaux Rouvroy 6-2 6-4
- R2: Ella Seidel 3-6 7-6(5) 4-4 RET
Yuriko Lily Miyazaki
After qualifying for the US Open main draw, Lily Miyazaki has failed to capitalize on the recent momentum built and will look to regain some form over the next few months after losing the first two matches of this season.
2024 Results So Far:
Canberra Challenger:
- QR1: Rebecca Marino 6-7(6) 6-3 3-6
Australian Open:
- QR1: Melisa Ercan 4-6 6-7(5)
Harriet Dart
A good start to the season for Harriet Dart in Canberra saw the Brit reach the final. However the world number 104 will be disappointed not to capitalize on the success at the Australian Open as she failed to qualify for the first Grand Slam of the season. Now Dart will look to continue to build her game as she aims to find a place back inside the world’s top 100.
2024 Results So Far:
Canberra Challenger:
- R1: Anna-Lena Friedsam 3-6 6-4 6-3
- R2: Yafan Wang 6-3 1-6 6-1
- QF: Nao Hibino 6-3 6-0
- SF: Katie Volynets 7-5 3-6 7-5
- Final: Nuria Parrizas-Diaz 4-6 3-6
Australian Open:
- QR1: Nuria Brancaccio 6-2 7-6(4)
- QR2: Yulia Starodubtseva 4-6 4-6
ITF Porto:
- QR1: Veronika Erjavec 6-7(3) 6-2 1-6
Heather Watson
Heather Watson’s form in singles continues to deteriorate as the Brit will be hoping some success in doubles will inspire her singles form over the next few months.
2024 Results So Far:
WTA Brisbane:
- QR1: Zeynep Sonmez 3-6 6-1 6-3
Australian Open:
- QR1: Lulu Sun 4-6 3-6
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