Australian Open: Emma Raducanu, Andy Murray & Heather Watson to play in Melbourne, Dan Evans through
- Published
(Left to right) Emma Raducanu, Andy Murray and Heather Watson are all aiming on Thursday to join Dan Evans in the third round in Melbourne
Australian Open 2022 |
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Dates: 17-30 January Venue: Melbourne Park |
Coverage: Daily radio commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Sport website and app, with selected live text commentaries online; TV highlights from middle Saturday. |
Emma Raducanu will look to continue her enjoyment of the Grand Slams when she faces Montenegro's Danka Kovinic for an Australian Open third-round spot.
The British teenager returns to Margaret Court Arena - where she beat Sloane Stephens - at 08:00 GMT.
Andy Murray is also back on the same court when he plays Japan's Taro Daniel on John Cain Arena (06:30 GMT).
Heather Watson is also aiming to reach round three on Thursday, but Dan Evans is already through with a walkover.
Watson meets Slovenia's 29th seed Tamara Zidansek - a French Open semi-finalist last year - not before 02:30 GMT.
Evans, seeded 24th, was due to play France's Arthur Rinderknech at about 02:00 GMT, but his opponent - who reached the Adelaide final on Saturday - withdrew earlier on Thursday with a wrist injury.
The British men's number two will play Canadian ninth seed Felix Auger Aliassime or Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the last 32.
Raducanu will be on court at the same time as the blockbuster match between Russian second seed Daniil Medvedev and Australia's Nick Kyrgios on Rod Laver Arena.
US Open champion Raducanu, 19, has won 11 of her 12 main-draw matches at the majors and says she has been inspired by Murray's fighting spirit.
Former world number one Murray, 34, won at Melbourne Park for the first time since 2017 when he battled past Georgian 21st seed Nikoloz Basilashvili in a tense five-setter on Tuesday.
It was his first match there since the Scot played Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut in 2019, which the five-time Australian Open finalist thought might be the last match of his career.
"I've watched so many of Andy's matches, all his finals here in Australia, but his match against Agut was some of the best fighting I've ever seen," said Raducanu.
"It's great to have a role model like him leading British tennis."
Meanwhile, Britain's Jonny O'Mara and Belarusian partner Andrei Vasilevski are taking on Australia's John Millman and American Mackenzie McDonald.
And British duo Dominic Inglot and Ken Skupski face Italian Andrea Vavassori and Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands.
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