Emma Raducanu, Andy Murray and the British hopes Down Under at Australian Open

10 January 2024 , 10:01

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Novak Djokovic heads to Australian Open as the defending champion

Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka will head to the Australian Open as defending champions.

The Serbian has dominated the first Grand Slam of the year, winning it a record 10 times. Last year he saw off Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets whilst Sabalenka claimed her first Grand Slam with a three-set success over Elena Rybakina. There has been no British finalist in the men's or the women's draw since Andy Murray last featured in 2016.

The three-time Grand Slam champion has been one game away from claiming the title in Australia on five occasions, but has been thwarted on every occasion. No longer at the peak of his powers, Murray heads to Melbourne ranked No 44. Cam Norrie, the world No 19, is the highest ranked Brit competing in Australia but he is yet to make it past the third round.

Not since 1972 has a British woman been in the final, with Virginia Wade successful on that occasion. Emma Raducanu, the nation's most recent Grand Slam champion, has been unable to build on her sensational US Open success from 2021. She has been knocked out in the second round for the last two years and recently pulled out of a charity match.

Several other women, the likes of Katie Boulter, have emerged during Raducanu's injury-hampered period, but they will be among the underdogs in Australia. Djokovic is the favourite to claim another Australian Open title with Iga Swiatek fancied to claim the women's title.

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We take a look at how the various British contenders are looking.

Cameron Norrie

The Mr Dependable of British tennis struggled during the second half of last season and admitted he felt a little burned out. Norrie does not have the luxury of a big weapon if his consistent game is not working but there were positive signs at last week’s United Cup, where he beat Alex De Minaur, that he may be close to finding his form again.

Cam Norrie is the highest ranked Brit eyeing a singles title

Dan Evans

Evans will be unseeded at a grand slam for the first time since 2019 after an inconsistent 2023 campaign ended prematurely by a calf injury. He is fit again and will be keen to try to climb back into the top 30. Now 33, Evans won the biggest title of his career in Washington last summer and also starred for Britain in the Davis Cup.

Andy Murray

It is 12 months since Murray’s extraordinary 4am victory over Thanasi Kokkinakis at Melbourne Park. His performances at the beginning of 2023 fuelled hope that he could push back towards the top of the game but it was largely a season of more frustration. There have been flashes of the old Murray but, at 36, time is very much running out.

Andy Murray has reached the Australian Open final five times (Getty Images)

Jack Draper

Could this be the year where Draper really makes a name for himself? The 22-year-old has been held back so far by injuries and missed a lot of last season but finished strongly and has all the tools to reach the very top of the game. A run to the fourth round of the US Open last summer is his best grand-slam showing so far.

Emma Raducanu

A raft of withdrawals have allowed Raducanu direct entry using the protected ranking of 103 from before her triple surgery. The hope is this can be a fresh start for the 21-year-old, who looked happy and relaxed on her return to the tour in Auckland last week, and showed in a close defeat to Elina Svitolina that she remains a high-class player.

Emma Raducanu has made a comeback after a lengthy injury layoff (AP)

Katie Boulter

Last season was by a distance the best of Boulter’s career. The 27-year-old won her maiden WTA Tour title in Nottingham and broke into the world’s top 50 for the first time. A supremely clean ball-striker, Boulter claimed the best win of her career over fifth-ranked Jessica Pegula at the United Cup last week for a dream start to 2024.

Jodie Burrage

Beaten by Boulter in the final in Nottingham, Burrage also achieved a long-term goal in 2023 by breaking into the top 100 for the first time. The 24-year-old will make her main-draw debut at Melbourne Park having fallen in the final round of qualifying 12 months ago.

PA Staff