Australian Open 2022: Britwatch – meet the British players competing in Melbourne

With 27 Brits involved across the draws in Melbourne, this is your one stop shop for finding out who is competing in the 2022 Australian Open, who they will be facing and how they get on in the first Grand Slam of the year…

Latest Updates:

• Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram are through to the quarter-finals after beating Dane Sweeny and Li Tu 6-4, 6-4
• Neal Skupski and Wesley Koolhof continue their unbeaten run as they reach the men's doubles quarter-finals
• Alfie Hewett reaches second Australian Open singles final as Lucy Shuker and Andy Lapthorne go out in the semis
  Hewett, Gordon Reid, Shuker and Lapthorne will all feature in wheelchair doubles finals
• You can also read our Australian Open daily round up of all the latest news and results from Melbourne

Quick Links

• Men (Broady, Evans, Glasspool, Inglot, A Murray, J Murray, Norrie, Salisbury, K Skupski, N Skupski, O’Mara)
• Women (Dart, Raducanu, Watson)
• Wheelchair (Hewett, Lapthorne, Reid, Shuker)
• Juniors (Bowden, Brady, Rankin, Stoiber)
• Qualifying

Men

Liam Broady

Events: Men’s Singles & Men's Singles Qualifying

World Ranking: 128

Stockport’s Broady is a former World No. 2 junior who has fond memories of the Australian Open having won the junior doubles title in 2012. The British no.4 is making his main draw debut at the Australian Open having earned his place after three hard-fought wins to win through qualifying. The hard work the 28-year-old has put in on and off the court was rewarded last year with a new career high world ranking and his first ever ATP Challenger title in Switzerland. Broady, who receives LTA support through the NTC Pro Access scheme, also made his Olympic debut last year, memorably beating Wimbledon semi-finalist and world no.12 Hubert Hurkacz en route to the third round. He then followed that up by being selected to be part of the GB team for the Davis Cup Finals.

Singles:

• Qualifying Round 1: won 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 v. Kacper Zuk (POL, world no.171)
• Qualifying Round 2: won 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 v. J.J. Wolf (USA, world no.210)
• Qualifying Round 3: won 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 v.Roman Safiullin (RUS, world no.146)
• Round 1: lost 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 v. Nick Kyrgios (AUS, world no.115)

Dan Evans

Events: Men’s Singles

World ranking: 24 (seeded 24)

British No.2 Dan Evens plays in the main draw of a Grand Slam for the 21st time, and his sixth at the Australian Open. The 31 year old Birmingham-born player is part of the LTA Elite player support programme, and goes into the event with hopes of progressing beyond his career best 4th round Grand Slam appearances in Melbourne in 2017 and last year at the US Open. A member of the Great Britain team that won the World Junior Tennis title, aged 14, Evans has had an outstanding couple of years and a fantastic start to 2022 – with straight sets wins against Denis Shapovalov, John Isner and Jan-Lennard Struff as part of the Great Britain team at the ATP Cup, as well as reaching the semi-final of the Sydney Tennis Classic warm up event. Evans has now played over 50 Grand Slam singles and doubles matches, including memorable wins over the likes of Marin Cilic in Melbourne in 2017, while in 2016 he took Stan Warwinka to five sets on the Swiss’ run to lifting the US Open title.

Singles:

• Round 1: won 6-4, 6-3, 6-0 v. David Goffin (BEL, world no.45)
• Round 2: walkover v. Arthur Rinderknech (FRA, world no.48)
• Round 3: lost 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 v. Felix Auger-Alliassime (CAN, world no.9 - seeded 9)

Lloyd Glasspool

Events: Men’s Doubles

World ranking: 74

Glasspool will be partnering Finland’s Harri Heliovaara in the men’s doubles at the Australian Open, as he makes his second overseas Grand Slam appearance. The West Midlander, who is supported by the LTA’s NTC Pro Access scheme, had to retire at one set all in the first round at the US Open last year but has also made three previous appearances at Wimbledon. Though he and Heliovaara lost out in close matches in the early stages of the warm-up events in Adelaide and Sydney, the 28-year-old takes to the courts in Melbourne at a career high in the ATP world rankings, having broken into the world’s top 100 doubles players for the first time last summer.

Men's Doubles - with Harri Heliovaara (FIN, world no.63)

• Round 1: won 6-3, 6-3 v. Federico Coria (ARG, world no.239) & Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP)
• Round 2: lost 6-7(4), 7-6(2), 6-1 v. Jamie Murray (GBR, world no.19) & Bruno Soares (BRA, world no.16) - seeded 8

Dom Inglot

Events: Men’s Doubles

World ranking: 60

Londoner Inglot learned to play tennis at school in Ealing, West London. Now one of nine British men ranked inside the world’s top 100 doubles players, Inglot will be making his 10th appearance at the Australian Open and his 38th at a Grand Slam. Partnering fellow Brit and NTC Pro Access player Ken Skupski this time around, the 35-year-old is a three-time quarter-finalist in Melbourne, as well as a former men’s doubles semi-finalist in New York and at Wimbledon – the venue where he also starred as a tennis double for Paul Bettany in the 2004 Hollywood film ‘Wimbledon’.

Men's Doubles - with Ken Skupski (GBR, world no.54)

• Round 1: won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 v. Tallon Griekspoor (NED, world no.329) & Andrea Vavassori (ITA, world no.72)
• Round 2: v. lost 7-5, 6-3 Raven Klassen (RSA, world no.27) & Ben McLachlen (JPN, world no.49) - seeded 13

Andy Murray

Events: Men’s Singles

World ranking: 113

Murray is a five-time finalist in at the Australian Open, and returns to Melbourne with signs he can once again challenge the very best players. Now the British No.5, 34-year-old Murray has started 2022 well, finising as runner-up at the Sydney Tennis Classic warm up event to build upon some promising performances at the end of last year. Having made a memorable and emotional departure from Melbourne Park in 2019 following a rollercoaster first round defeat to Roberto Bautista Agut, Murray has returned to the tour following hip surgery to continue what has been a stellar career. The Scot, who is part of the LTA’s Elite player support scheme, has played over 1,000 career matches and competed at more than 50 Grand Slam tournaments, winning three of them, as well as famously claiming Olympic gold medals in both London and Rio.

Singles

• Round 1: won 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4 v. Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO, world no.23 – seeded 21)
• Round 2: lost 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 v. Taro Daniel (JPN, world no.120)

Jamie Murray

Events: Men’s Doubles

World ranking: 19

Once again playing with doubles partner Bruno Soares with whom he has enjoyed so much success, the duo will be seeded eighth for this year’s Australian Open. The pair, who won this title together in 2016, reached the semi-final here last year as well as finishing as runners-up at the 2021 US Open. Murray is making his 58th appearance at a Grand Slam and will looking to add to his two men’s doubles titles – including that win in 2016 as part of a stellar year that saw him also become world no.1. The 35-year-old Scot, who is part of the LTA Elite player support programme, is also a five-time mixed doubles Grand Slam title winner, and reached the mixed doubles final in Melbourne in 2020.

Men's Doubles - with Bruno Soares (BRA, world no.16) - seeded 8

• Round 1: won 6-3, 6-2 v. James Duckworth (AUS, world no.222) & Marc Polmans (AUS, world no.107)
• Round 2: won 6-7(4), 7-6(2), 6-1 v. Lloyd Glasspool (GBR, world no.74) & Harri Heliovaara (FIN, world no.63)
  Round 3: lost 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-3 v. Simone Bolelli (ITA, world no.25) & Fabio Fognini (ITA, world no.93)

Cameron Norrie

Events: Men’s Singles

World ranking: 12 (seeded 12)

Norrie goes in to the Australian Open at a career high world ranking off the back of a sensational 2021 that saw him eclipse Dan Evans to become British No.1. Norrie was the first graduate of the LTA’s Pro-Scholarship Programme, which supports players looking to break in to the world’s top 100, and last year saw him finish runner-up at the cinch Championships at The Queens Club, claim his maiden ATP Tour title in Mexico, become the first Brit to win the ATP Masters title at Indian Wells, and make his debut at the end of season ATP Tour Finals. Next on the list for the LTA Elite support player is to go deep into the draw at Grand Slams – the 26-year-old reached the last 32 at the Australian Open last year, losing out to Rafael Nadal, but having now reached that stage at each of the four majors, he will be aiming to go beyond it for the first time in Melbourne.

Singles

• Round 1: lost to Sebastian Korda (USA, world no.43) - 6-3, 6-0, 6-4

Jonny O’Mara

Events: Men’s Doubles

World ranking: 65

Arbroath’s Jonny O’Mara is one of Britain’s current crop of doubles specialists, and will be playing in his 14th Grand Slam and what will be his fourth consecutive appearance at the Australian Open. The 26-year-old, who is supported by the LTA’s NTC Pro Access scheme, reached the quarter-finals of the warm up tournament in Sydney and will be looking to continue that form and emulate his career best quarter final appearance at the Australian Open in 2020. The former University of Stirling player was also part of the Great Britain university side that defeated the US College team to win the Master U title for the first time in 2017.

Men's Doubles – with Andrei Vasilevski (BLR, world no.82)

• Round 1: won 6-2, 6-2 v. Mackenzie McDonald (USA, world no.298) & John Millman (AUS, world no.199)
• Round 2: lost 6-3, 6-3 v. Marcel Granollers (ESP, world no.7) and Horacio Zeballos (ARG, world no.6) - seeded 3

Joe Salisbury

Events: Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles

World ranking: 3

Salisbury is a four-time Grand Slam champion, having won the Australian Open Men’s Doubles title alongside Rajeev Ram in 2020, and last year claiming the Roland Garros mixed doubles title alongside Desirae Krawczyk as well as both the men’s doubles and the mixed doubles titles with the same players at the US Open. Salisbury, who is part of the LTA’s Elite player support programme, has reached at least a semi-final at half of the 14 Grand Slams in which he has competed, and in the last two years with Ram has become part of one of the most formidable doubles partnerships in tennis. Now ranked Britain’s No.1 men’s doubles player, the 29-year-old from Putney began playing tennis at the age of three and started working with his current coach, Justin Sherring, at age six. A former World University Games champion, Salisbury also made his Great Britain debut last year at the Olympic Games to become Colour Holder number 312, and followed that up with a Davis Cup debut in Austria.

Men's Doubles – with Rajeev Ram (USA, world no.4) – seeded 2

• Round 1: 6-3, 6-3 v. Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO, world no.419) & Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB, 273)
• Round 2: won 6-1, 6-2 v. Marcus Daniell (NZL, world no. 52) & Frederik Nielsen (DEN, world no.102)
• Round 3: won 6-4, 6-4 v. Dane Sweeny (AUS, world no.566) and Li Tu (AUS, world no.979)
• Quarter-final: v. Simone Bolelli (ITA, world no.25) & Fabio Fognini (ITA, world no.93)
• Mixed Doubles - with Desirae Krawczyk (USA, world no.16) - seeded 1
• Round 1: lost 6-7(9), 6-4, 10-5 v. Giuliana Olmos (MEX, world no.19) & Marcelo Arevalo (ESA, world no.30)

Ken Skupski

Events: Men’s Doubles

World ranking: 54

This year’s Australian Open will be the left-handed Liverpool fan’s 40th appearance at a Grand Slam tournament. The 38-year-old NTC Pro Access player reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open men’s doubles in 2020 and is also a previous quarter-finalist at Wimbledon. This year partnering fellow Brit Dom Inglot, the older of the Skupski brothers will be looking to do well on what is his 10th appearance in Melbourne.

Men's Doubles - with Dom Inglot (GBR, world no.60)

• Round 1: won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 v. Tallon Griekspoor (NED, world no.329) & Andrea Vavassori (ITA, world no.72)
• Round 2: lost 7-5, 6-3 v, Raven Klassen (RSA, world no.27) & Ben McLachlen (JPN, world no.49) - seeded 13

Neal Skupski

Events: Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles

World ranking: 20

The younger of the Skupski brothers, Neal takes to the courts in Australia ranked as Great Britain’s No.3 men’s doubles player, just one place behind Jamie Murray. He previously reached the semi-finals at the US Open in 2019 as well as the quarter-finals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, but is aiming to go beyond the second round for the first time in Melbourne where he partners the Netherlands’ Wesley Koolhof. The Liverpudlian has shown the form to do just that, starting 2022 off by winning both the ATP250 warm up event in Melbourne and the Adelaide International alongside Koolhof. Last year saw Skupski, who is part of the LTA Elite player support programme, win his fifth ATP Title and move into the world’s top 20 for the first time. He was also part of the Great Britain team last year for both Tokyo 2020 and at the David Cup Finals.

Men's Doubles - with Wesley Koolhof (NED, world no.21) – seeded 10

• Round 1: won 6-1, 6-4 v. Romain Arneodo (MON, world no.76) & Benoit Paire (FRA, world no.66)
• Round 2: won 6-1, 6-4 v. Daniel Altmaier (GER, world no.404) & Thiago Monteiro (BRA, world no.157)
• Round 3: won 6-3, 6-4 v. Marcos Giron (USA, world no.1169) & Soonwoo Swon (KOR, world no.699)
• Quarter-final: v. Matthew Ebden (AUS, world no.55) & Max Purcel (AUS, world no.34)
• Mixed Doubles - with Storm Sanders (AUS, world no.27)
• Round 1: lost 6-3, 7-6(8) v. Ena Shibahara (JPN, world no.6) & Ben McLachlan (JPN, world no.49) - seeded 8

WOMEN

Harriet Dart

Events: Women’s Singles (via qualifying)

World ranking: 123

North Londoner Dart demonstrated her resilience once again as she came through qualifying at a Grand Slam for the fifth time in her career and the third time in Melbourne, Having won three matches to earn her place in the main draw, the 25-year-old LTA Pro-Scholarship Programe player will be aiming to add to her tally of three previous main draw match wins at Grand Slams. The British no.3 showed good form in also coming through qualifying at the Melbourne warm up event earlier this month, and will be aiming to build on a promising 2021 that saw her rise to a new career high in the world rankings with a number of victories over top 100 players as well as defeat fellow Brits Heather Watson and Emma Raducanu in WTA Tour matches.

Singles

• Qualifying Round 1: won 6-4, 6-3 v. Federica Di Sarra (ITA, world no.205)
• Qualifying Round 2: won 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 v. Alycia Parks (USA, world no.218)
• Qualifying Round 3: won 6-3, 6-3 v. Kimberly Birrell (AUS, world no.664)
• Round 1: lost 6-3, 6-0 v. Iga Swiatek (POL, world no.9 – seeded 7)

Emma Raducanu

Events: Women’s Singles

World ranking: 18 (seeded 17)

Kent’s Raducanu arrives in Melbourne as a Grand Slam champion, having shot to global prominence last year after winning the US Open. A series of sensational performances saw her reach the second week at Wimbledon on what was her Grand Slam debut, before going on to make tennis history in New York as she became the first ever player to win the title after coming through qualifying – a 10 match run during which she didn’t drop a set. The 19-year-old was part of the LTA’s Pro-Scholarship Programme for a number of years and continues to receive LTA support to help maximise her potential. Despite her status as a global figure in the sport, Raducanu will nevertheless be making her Australian Open debut in Melbourne this year and only the third Grand Slam appearance of her senior career. After pulling out of a warm up tournament earlier this month having just come out of isolation after testing positive for Covid-19, before then losing to world no.13 Elena Rybakina in the opening-round of the Sydney International, the British no.1 will be aiming to enjoy being back on court in Australia and continuing to inspire a new generation of fans and players – the young Brit is an ambassador for the LTA Youth programme, which aims to help more children enjoy the benefits of playing and staying in tennis, whatever their age, gender, ability, disability or background.

Singles

• Round 1: won 6-0, 2-6, 6-1 v. Sloane Stephens (USA, world no.67)
• Round 2: lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 v. Danka Kovinic (MNE, world no.98)

Heather Watson

Events: Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles

World ranking: 94 (singles), 100 (doubles)

Guernsey’s Watson is making her 11th consecutive appearance in the Australian Open singles main draw, and is vastly experienced at this level with 40 previous Grand Slam main draw appearances under her belt. She will be aiming to emulate her best showing in Australia in reaching the third round in 2013, while she also will be hoping for success in doubles, having reached the third round of the women’s doubles in Melbourne last year. Watson is no stranger to success at Grand Slams, having won the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon with Finland’s Henri Kontinen in 2016, and the Junior US Open crown in 2009. In preparation for Melbourne, Watson won through qualifying in Adelaide before pushing world no.31 Tamara Zidansek to a final set tie break, as well as reaching the quarter-finals of the doubles the previous week. The 29-year-old is part of the LTA Elite support programme and is a stalwart of the Great Britain Billie Jean King Cup team, currently ranked as Britain’s no.2 in singles and no.1 in doubles.

Singles:

• Round 1: won 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 v. Mayar Sherif (EGY, world no.62)
• Round 2: lost 7-6(4), 6-4 v. Tamara Zidansek (SLO, world no.29 - seeded 29)
• Women’s Doubles – with Jasmine Paolini (ITA, world no.125)
• Round 1: won 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-2 v. Alexandra Bozovic (AUS, world no. 518) & Olivia Tjandramulia (AUS, world no.152)
• Round 2: lost 6-4, 6-3 v. Marta Kostyuk (UKR, world no.96) & Dayana Yastremska (UKR, world no.198)

QUALIFYING

*Both Liam Broady and Harriet Dart won through qualifying to earn places in the main draw (see above).

Katie Boulter

Events: Women’s Singles qualifying

World ranking: 190

LTA Support: Pro-Scholarship Programme

Singles:

• Qualifying Round 1: lost 6-3, 6-4 v. Emina Bektas (USA, world no.216)

Jodie Burrage

Events: Women’s Singles qualifying

World ranking: 213

LTA Support: Pro-Scholarship Programme

Singles:

• Qualifying Round 1: lost 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 v. Seone Mendez (AUS, world no.241)

Fran Jones

Events: Women’s Singles qualifying

World ranking: 151

LTA Support: Pro-Scholarship Programme

Singles:

• Qualifying Round 1: 5-1 (retired) v. Usue Maitane Arconada (USA, world no.185)

Samantha Murray Sharan

Events: Women’s Singles qualifying

World ranking: 290

LTA Support: NTC Pro Access

Singles:

• Qualifying Round 1: lost 6-1, 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (10-8) v. Hailey Baptiste (USA, world no.168)

Katie Swan

Events: Women’s Singles qualifying

World ranking: 246

LTA Support: Pro-Scholarship Programme / NTC Pro Access

Singles:

• Qualifying Round 1: won 6-2, 6-4 v. Abbie Myers (AUS, world no.440)
• Qualifying Round 2: lost 6-0, 7-5 v. Viktoriya Tomova (BUL, world no.119)

WHEELCHAIR

The 2022 Australian Open wheelchair tournament takes place from Sunday 23 - Thursday 27 January, with four Brits in contention for the honours:

Alfie Hewett

Events: Men’s Wheelchair Singles, Men’s Wheelchair Doubles

World ranking: 2 (singles), 1 (doubles)

Norfolk’s Hewett has five Grand Slam singles titles to his name but will be aiming to add the Australian Open to that collection for the first time. Having become the sport’s youngest ever world No.1 back in 2018, the 24-year-old is part of the LTA Elite Wheelchair player support programme and will again be among the favourites for the title in Melbourne after winning the fifth ITF Super Series singles title of his career ahead of the Australian Open. Now able to put the uncertainty of the past two years firmly behind him after receiving classification confirmation from the ITF, Hewett will be looking to build on the success he achieved last year that saw him win the singles title at Roland Garros and finish as runner up at both the Australian Open and US Open, as well as claim the end of season NEC Masters title. Together with doubles partner and fellow Brit Gordon Reid, Hewett is also one half of what is Great Britain’s most successful ever Grand Slam doubles partnership. Last year the duo became the first ever to complete the calendar year Grand Slam in men’s wheelchair doubles and will be aiming to win their third consecutive doubles title in Melbourne.

Singles - seeded 2

• Quarter-finals: won 6-1, 7-6(2) v. Gustavo Fernandez (ARG, world no.3)
• Semi-finals: won 6-1, 6-1 v. Stephane Houdet (FRA, world no.6)
• Final: v. Shingo Kunieda (JPN, world no.1)
• Doubles - with Gordon Reid (GBR, world no.2) - seeded 1
• Semi-finals: won 7-5, 6-2 v. Tom Egberink (NED, world no.6) & Ben Weekes (AUS, world no.45)
• Final: v. Shingo Kunieda (JPN, world no.5) & Gustavo Fernandez (ARG, world no.7)

Andy Lapthorne

Events: Quad Wheelchair Singles, Quad Wheelchair Doubles

World ranking: 4 (singles), 6 (doubles)

Londoner Lapthorne is one of the leading quad wheelchair tennis players in the world, with two Grand Slam singles titles, 11 Grand Slam doubles trophies and two silver and one bronze Paralympic medal to his name, The Australian Open singles title however is one that has so far eluded the West Ham United fan, finishing as runner up on three occasions. The 31-year-old, who is part of the LTA Elite Wheelchair player support programme, has however won the doubles title in Melbourne on no fewer than five occasions, most recently in 2017, and will be aiming to add to that collection this time around.

Singles

• Quarter-finals: won 7-5, 6-3 v. Donald Ramphadi (RSA, world no.17)
• Semi-finals: lost 6-3, 6-0 v. Dylan Alcott (AUS, world no.1)
• Doubles - with David Wagner (USA, world no.4) - seeded 2
• Semi-finals: won 6-3, 4-6, 10-6 v. Donald Ramphadi (RSA, world no.21) & Koji Sunego (JPN, world no.7)
• Final: v. Sam Schroder (NED, world no.2) & Niels Vink (NED, world no.1) - seeded 1

Gordon Reid

Events: Men’s Wheelchair Singles, Men’s Wheelchair Doubles

World ranking: 4 (singles), 2 (doubles)

Reid became the first ever Brit to win the men’s wheelchair singles title at the Australian Open in 2016, adding the Wimbledon title to that later the same year. Having won the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics to add to the famous gold he claimed in Rio, the 29-year-old Rangers fan has shown he has started 2022 in the form to challenge for major titles, having finished as runner up to world no.1 Shingo Kunieda at the Victorian Wheelchair Open warm-up tournament earlier this month. Alongside Hewett, Reid, who like his doubles partner is part of the LTA Elite Wheelchair player support programme, will be aiming to continue the form that saw them complete the calendar year doubles Grand Slam last season and add yet another trophy to his doubles collection which already totals 17.

Singles

• Quarter-finals: lost 6-4, 6-1 v. Stephane Houdet (FRA, world no.6)
• Doubles - with Alfie Hewett (GBR, world no.1) - seeded 1
• Semi-finals: won 7-5, 6-2 v. Tom Egberink (NED, world no.6) & Ben Weekes (AUS, world no.45)
• Final: v. Shingo Kunieda (JPN, world no.5) & Gustavo Fernandez (ARG, world no.7)

Lucy Shuker

Events: Women’s Wheelchair Singles, Women’s Wheelchair Doubles

World ranking: 9 (singles), 4 (doubles)

Shuker is one of Great Britain’s most experienced players, and is an eight-time Grand Slam doubles finalist, including having three times finished runner-up at the Australian Open (2010, 2013, 2021), as well as having reached the singles semi-final in Melbourne twice. However, the 41-year-old, who receives support as part of the LTA’s Wheelchair Tennis Performance Pathway, remains in search of that elusive first Grand Slam title and will be aiming to make it a memorable campaign in Melbourne. Having been introduced to the sport by former quad World No.1 Peter Norfolk when buying her first wheelchair, Shuker has gone on to help lead Great Britain to a string of silver and bronze medals in the World Team Cup women’s event (the wheelchair tennis equivalent of the Davis Cup or Billie Jean King Cup), including a first ever silver medal for the GB women’s team in Nottingham in 2009. She also partnered Jordanne Whiley to win Great Britain’s first ever Paralympic medal in women’s wheelchair tennis when they won bronze at London 2012, repeating that at Rio 2016 before going one better at Tokyo 2020 to win silver. Like Raducanu, Shuker is also an ambassador for the LTA Youth programme and is passionate about inspiring the next generation of players.

Singles

• Quarter-finals: won 6-2, 6-2 v. Zhenzhen Zhu (CHN, world no.6)
• Semi-finals: lost 6-0, 7-5 v. Diede De Groot (NED, world no.1) - seeded 1
• Doubles - with Yui Kamiji (JPN, world no.3) - seeded 2
• Semi-finals: won 6-2, 6-3 v. Zhenzhen Zhu (CHN, world no.7) & Jiske Griffioen (NED, world no.13)
• Final: v. Diede De Groot (NED, world no.1) & Aniek van Koot (NED, world no.2) - seeded 1

JUNIORS

Junior Boy's and Junior Girl's tournaments take place Satuday 22 - Saturday 29 January, with four Brits scheduled to be in action:

Louis Bowden

Events: Boy’s Singles and Boy's Doubles
World Ranking: 91
Age: 17
County: Hampshire & Isle of Wight (Portsmouth)
Bowden prepared for his first attempt at qualifying for an overseas Grand Slam junior draw by defeating the world no.37 in straight sets to reach the second round of the J1 tournament in Traralgon earlier this month. He arrived in Australia off the back of a promising 2021 that saw him win his first ITF Junior singles title in September at the J3 in Les Franqueses del Valles in Spain, having finished as runner-up in Porto the previous week – he then teamed up with fellow Brit Mathew Rankin to win his first doubles title on the international junior circuit at the ITF J3 event in Haifa, Israel. That all followed a summer where he reached the semi-finals at the LTA Junior National Championships, and made his Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon. Hit with Katie Boulter at Wimbledon last summer, and is well regarded at his coaching programme, Elite Tennis in Southampton, where he has spent time helping out with sessions for younger age groups.

Singles:

• Qualifying – Round 1: won 6-2, 6-2 v. Jonas Hahn (AUS, age 14, world no.808)
• Qualifying - Round 2: won 6-2, 6-2 v. Marcus Schoeman (AUS, age 16, world no.914)
• Round 1: lost 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 v. Yannik Rahman (USA, age 17, world no.62)
• Doubles - with Matthew Rankin (GBR, world no.71)
• Round 1: lost 6-3, 7-6(3) v. Yaroslav Demin (RUS, age 16, world no.68) & Leanid Boika (USA, age 17, world no.72)

Patrick Brady

Events: Boy’s Singles and Boy's Doubles

World Ranking: 105
Age: 17
County: Kent (Sutton-at-Hone, Dartford)

Brady has shown the challenge of coming through qualifying is one he is capable of succeeding in, having been one of a pair of British boys to make it through qualifying to earn a place in the main draw of Junior Wimbledon last year, putting in some impressive performances that saw him beat the world numbers 75 and 47. Coached by his dad, John, Brady also came through qualifying to reach the quarter-finals of the men’s LTA British Tour event at Frinton last June, before having to withdraw. Started 2022 off with three wins, coming through qualifying to reach the second round of the J1 tournament in Traralgon earlier this month, narrowly missing out in a tight match against the world no.22. Brady, who broke into the world’s top 100 juniors for the first time at the start of this year, has been playing tennis since shortly after he could walk, and made his senior debut for Warren Tennis Club as a six-year-old when his father’s usual doubles partner was a late withdrawal ahead of a South West Essex League match.

Singles:

• Qualifying – Round 1: lost 6-4, 4-6, 6-6(7) v. Rohan Murali (USA, age 17, world no.262)
• Doubles - with Connor Henry Van Schalkwyk (NAM, age 17, world no.37)
• Round 1: lost 6-2, 6-7(6), 9-4 (RET) v. Artur Kukasian (RUS, age 17, world no.36) & Liam Gavrielides (GER, age 17, world no.31)

Matthew Rankin

Events: Boy’s Singles and Boy's Doubles
World Ranking: 71
Age: 17
County: Scotland East (Edinburgh)

Rankin is competing in his first junior Grand Slam, and will be aiming to build on a successful 2021 that saw him win 10 ITF junior titles. He claimed his first international junior singles title at the J5 event in Wrexham in May, before then following that up with three more – a J4 tournament in Greece, and then J3 titles in Cyprus and Loughborough – as well as winning six doubles titles, the best of which being a J3 title with fellow Brit Louis Bowden in Israel. The young Scot warmed up for Melbourne by beating the world no.36 to reach the second round of the J1 tournament in Traralgon. Having previously developed his tennis at the National Tennis Academy in Stirling, the former Merchiston Castle School pupil has continued to train at the University of Stirling as part of the Tennis Scotland programme there while completing his studies online.

Singles:

• Round 1: lost 6-4, 6-3 v. Max Batyutenko (KAZ, age 16, world no.55)
• Doubles - with Louis Bowden (GBR, age 17, world no.91)
• Round 1: lost 6-3, 7-6(3) v. Yaroslav Demin (RUS, age 16, world no.68) & Leanid Boika (USA, age 17, world no.72

Ranah Stoiber

Events: Girl’s Singles and Girl's Doubles
World Ranking: 45
Age: 16
County: Middlesex (Hounslow)

Stoiber heads to Melbourne off the back of reaching the final of the doubles draw at the J1 tournament in Traralgon, as well as the second round of the singles. Having finished runner-up at the 16U LTA Junior National Championships in Surbiton last year, and then followed that up by coming through qualifying to reach the quarter-finals of the 18U event, Stoiber capitalised on the opportunity of receiving a wildcard into Junior Wimbledon, defeating the no.9 seed and then narrowly losing out to the no.6 seed in the third round. She then built on that by reaching two J1 and one J2 singles semi-finals, and winning ITF doubles titles at a J3 event in Germany and the J4 tournament in Loughborough. She first played tennis as a seven year old, taking lessons at Thisleworth Tennis Club and later joining Ealing Lawn Tennis Club. She has continued to progress through the LTA player pathway, and currently attends the National Tennis Academy at Loughborough as part of the programme delivered by Nick Cavaday and his team, having previously trained at the LTA Regional Player Development Centre at Dukes Meadow in Chiswick and been coached by Neil Bamford.

Singles:

• Round 1: won 6-2, 6-1 v. Aya El Aouni (MOR, age 16, world no.61)
• Round 2: lost 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 v. Michaela Laki (GRE, age 16, world no.11 - seeded 6)
• Doubles: - with Mia Kupres (CAN, age 18, world no.48)
• Round 1: won 4-6, 6-3, 10-7 v. Carolina Kuhl (GER, age 16, world no.46) & Tijana Sretenovic (SRB, age 16, world no.50)
• Round 2: lost 6-3, 6-3 v. Clervie Ngounoue (USA, age 15, world no.10) & Diana Shnaider (RUS, age 17, world no.3)