Australian Open 2024 - who are the Scots to watch in Melbourne?
• 4 MINUTE READ
Here's everything you need to know about the first Grand Slam of the year. Find out which Scots are playing and how to watch.
When does it start?
The 2024 Australian Open starts on Sunday, 14 January, although qualifying has already taken place on site over the past week. Six Scots will feature in the main draws, including debuts for Maia Lumsden and Charlie Robertson at Melbourne Park.
Who are the Scots to watch?
Andy Murray and Cam Norrie will be returning to Australia in the men’s singles draw.
In the build-up, though, Norrie withdrew from the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, ahead of his quarter-final match with Alejandro Tabilo due to a wrist injury.
Prior to Auckland, Norrie found early form at the United Cup, where he defeated hometown hero Alex de Minaur and narrowly lost out to Taylor Fritz. He is set to play Juan Pablo Varillas of Peru (ATP no 80) in the first round in Melbourne.
Five-time finalist Murray will be back for his 16th Australian Open. He progressed to the third round last year after two epic five-set wins against Matteo Berrettini and Thanasi Kokkinakis before falling to Roberto Bautista Agut.
Murray started his season in Brisbane, where he lost out to a resurgent Grigor Dimitrov in three sets. The Scot is now set to face 30th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina. The two have met twice, both in 2023, with Murray winning their first encounter in Indian Wells before Etcheverry enjoyed a victory in Basel.
Murray’s draw has the potential to match him up against long-time rival and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the third round if both players progress.
Maia Lumsden makes her senior Australian Open debut in the doubles, having joined Naiktha Bains to become the first British women’s partnership to reach the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in over 40 years last summer.
Since then, Lumsden – who will now team up with Oksana Kalashnikova of Georgia - has risen to become the women’s doubles British number one, achieved a maiden WTA circuit title win, as well as received call-ups for the GB Billie Jean King Cup and United Cup teams.
Jamie Murray will continue his partnership with Michael Venus. The Scot-Kiwi pair picked up four tour titles last season and narrowly missed out on the ATP Tour Finals in Turin.
The second week at Melbourne Park will showcase wheelchair world number 5 Gordon Reid in the men’s singles and doubles. Reid returns to defend his 2023 Australian Open doubles title, one of three Grand Slam events he won last year with Alfie Hewett.
Reid has already been competing in Australia, featuring in the Victorian Wheelchair Open, where he won two rounds to reach the quarter-finals before losing out to Takashi Sanada in three sets.
Charlie Robertson is set to compete at the Australian Open for the first time in his career. Robertson is currently ranked 27 in the Junior ITF rankings and made his first Boys' Grand Slam main draw appearance at Wimbledon 2023, where he won his opening round.
Meanwhile, Hephzibah Oluwadare is competing in the Girls' qualifying event as she aims to reach the main draw in Melbourne. Currently ranked 106 in Juniors, Hephzibah also impressed at Wimbledon last summer before helping Scotland to victory at the Junior Four Nations in September.
How can I watch?
This year’s Australian Open will be televised in the UK on Eurosport, which can be accessed through Discovery+. Nick Kyrgios will be joining the commentary team on Discovery+ for the duration of the tournament.
Stay tuned on our social media channels, where we’ll be providing the latest results and updates on Scots competing down under.
