Starts this next couple of weeks with firstly the Victorian Open (Series 1 event with $32k prize money- series 1 is like an ATP500 of which there are 9 currently on the calendar)
Following that is the Melbourne Open, a Super Series event with $45k prizeMoney. Super Series is like a Masters 1000 and there are 4 scheduled this season - they include the Cajun Classic in the USA in spring, French Riviera Open in June, and an event in Japan.
And after that is the Australian Open. 16 player singles fields this season in mens and womens and Ben Bartram joins Alfie Hewett in the mens fields, plus Lucy Shuker and Andy Lapthorne in womens and quads. Im not sure if Gordon Reid is fit and he has dropped down to 14 in the rankings.
The season opening Victoria Open draws are out. Remember , this is a Series 1 event, like a 500, with a Super Series (Masters equivalent) next week and then the AO. Fields though will be quite similar in each.
Quads - Andy Lapthorne plays Aussie Jin Woodman in the opening round (last 8)
Womens - 24 draw - Lucy Shuker is seeded 6th and has a bye; Cornelia Oosthuizen is in round 1, ranked 24 she plays 13th ranked German Katharina Kruger
Mens - 23 draw. Alfie Hewett is top seed and has a bye. Gordon Reid (ranked 14th) is in round one and plays Japanese Fujimoto (ranked 56) in the opening round and then could play Alfie in round 2 (dang); Ben Bartam is 18th ranked and plays Aussie Naser who is ranked below 100. However if Ben wins, he will play 2nd seeded Tokito Oda in the second round.
In doubles here, Ben Bartram is in the semis with partner Oda.
Lucy Shuker is having a bad time of it - the only top 8 seed not to reach the seeded positions and , as third seed, lost the opening doubles match. Lucy is having a tough time generally form wise and could well fall down the rankings with a bad Aussie run.
Of course, the events ratchet up week by week, so she may be saving herself for the AO!
Andy Lapthorne lost his final 7-5 7-5 against top seed Heath Davidson. Still a good week and return to form for Andy.
Ben Bartram lost his doubles semi so no British titles this week.
Players stay in Melbourne where the action moves from the Victorian Open (series 1 level) to the higher graded Melbourne Open (super series) and then the event after will be the AO.
This Aussie swing is fast becoming the key part of the season for the wheelchair tour, 3 big events in succession in the same city, doesnt happen generally.
Andy L comes out as best Brit this week and its nice to see that for a change as he struggled last season for well documented reasons
The Super Series Melbourne Open starts tomorrow - largely the same cast but one or two higher ranked entries also.
Quads - Andy Lapthorne plays Heath Davidson who beat Andy in last weeks final. Davidson is seeded 3 this week, he was top seed in last weeks event
Womens - Lucy Shuker is seeded 7 and has an opening bye into the last 16. Cornelia Oosthuizen plays an unranked Chinese player first up.
Mens - Alfie Hewett is top seed again this week; bye into last 16. Gordon Reid plays a local Aussie in his opener and Ben Bartram a lower ranked Japanese opponent.
Gordon and Ben won their openers comfortably. Cornelia in a tussle versus the Chinese player
COrnelia ended up losing.
So ALfie, Gordon, Ben, Andy and Lucy all in still
And all of these 5 plus Cornelia are in doubles - Alfie and Gordon play together after not playing last week. Which is good to see!!
15 grand slams doubles titles together
PS remember, this is the Melbourne Open, a warm up for next weeks Australian Open, albeit it is a Super Series warm up - a bit like if Queens as a Masters 1000 and week before Wimbledon!
Well done Gordon Reid! Hes falllen to 20th in the rankings after injury but today played 6th seed Miki from Japan and won in three sets. Excellent win and joined in last 8 by Alfie. Ben lost to Gerard the third seed.
Into the last 8 in singles we have Alfie, Gordon, Lucy and Andy L - of all the players still in, Gordon Reid is the only player to have upset the seedings, so well done to him earlier.
In doubles, all of the above and also Cornelia O in womens are still in, although Andy L hasnt started playing yet.
Decent start to this week 2 of the Aussie campaign