This is the first of 2 Grade 1 events acting as a warm-up for the Australian Open, with the main draw starting on Friday. The disappointing news is that Laura Robson was a late withdrawal (not clear whether this was due to the stomach muscle problem which occurred at the Orange Bowl). Hence there are just 2 Brits in the draw, and both are drawn to play their top seed in round 1 or 2. Heather Watson and Laura are still on the list for the second Grade 1, but Alastair Barnes has withdrawn from all the Australian events, including the Australian Open.
Excellent news overnight from Down Under, where James upset the World number 11 in the first round. Hannah gets her chance of the limelight tomorrow against the world no. 1 and Wimbledon finalist.
Boys Singles R1 (Last 64)
James CHAUDRY (GBR) d. (1) Marin DRAGANJA (CRO) 6-4 6-4
R2
James CHAUDRY (GBR) v (WC) Todd VOLMARI (AUS)
Girls Singles R1
Hannah JAMES (GBR) d. Min LIU (CHN) 3-6 6-4 7-6(3)
R2
(1) Noppawan LERTCHEEWAKARN (THA) v Hannah JAMES (GBR)
Just a little update from australia. James played very well both yesterday and today and is through to the last 16. Hannah had a marathon 4 hour 10 minute match yesterday that unfortunately was on from 11am until 3pm at mid 30s temperature. Both girls were exhausted and Hannah won in the tie break. She lost in 3 sets today 6-4 0-6 0-6 against the world number one. Spoke to her after. She was gutted . In second set all games went around deuce but in the third set her legs just had nothing left in them from the day before.
Thanks for the update. Good news about James and brilliant for Hannah to have taken a set off Lertcheewakarn, I'd have thought. 4 hours 10 minutes for a 3 set match sounds absolutely mad, how on earth did that happen?
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GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!
Long ralleys, a bit of score changing!!! and both just fought hard for every point. Chinese girl is very tall and solid about 5ft10 and comes into the net. Its matches like these that help your tennis as they both needed to focus for such a long time.
Still seems an amazing length for a 3-set match, but yes I'm sure you're right, it's brilliant experience to have played a match like that and won it, even if it did kill her chances the following day. (since she played the world no. 1 the next day, maybe she should think of it like Muzza losing to Fed at the USO after having given everything to beat Rafa!)
-- Edited by steven at 10:13, 2009-01-10
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GB on a shirt, Davis Cup still gleaming, 79 years of hurt, never stopped us dreaming ... 29/11/2015 that dream came true!