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Australia boasts one of many strongest presences among the many 36 totally different nations represented within the closing qualifying spherical at Wimbledon 2024.
London, Nice Britain, 27 June 2024 | Leigh Rogers
Australia is among the most closely represented nations within the closing spherical of the Wimbledon 2024 qualifying competitors, with 5 gamers competing for a coveted main-draw spot at this time.
It’s no coincidence that the Aussie contingent (which started with 18 gamers) has thrived on the grass courts at Roehampton both.
“It kind of looks like dwelling in a approach,” famous Olivia Gadecki, who has scored two spectacular wins to advance to the ultimate qualifying spherical for a second consecutive 12 months.
The 22-year-old described the camaraderie and assist for Australian gamers in London all through this week as “unimaginable”.
“It’s so good that we’re on the identical match alongside each other,” Gadecki stated. “It’s not typically you get so many Aussies on the identical place (on tour).”
Sam Stosur, Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup captain, and Nicole Pratt, Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup coach, have been courtside supporting the Aussie gamers this week. They’ve been joined by Paul Kilderry, Tennis Australia’s Director of Skilled Tennis, and Nicole Kriz, Director of Tennis Australia’s Nationwide Tennis Academy.
The Aussie opponents have been watching their friends between their very own taking part in commitments, with Daria Saville, Jason Kubler and Todd Woodbridge additionally dropping by to point out their assist.
Further assist has come from Tennis Australia’s workforce of physiotherapists, energy and conditioning coaches, in addition to recreation evaluation consultants. A robust presence on the bottom on the qualifying occasion helps gamers put together bodily and tactically for his or her matches.
“It’s superb having lots of Aussies right here,” stated Li Tu, who scored a milestone first Wimbledon win earlier this week.
“Everybody actually helps one another, and it helps rather a lot having lots of assist round. It’s very nice when others make an effort to return out and watch.”
A real appreciation for competing on grass courts can be a standard development among the many Australian gamers.
Inglis, one in every of two Western Australians by means of to the ultimate qualifying spherical, grew up taking part in on the “lovely grass courts in Perth”.
“Saturday and Sunday pennants, all of the tournaments that mum would take me to within the faculty holidays, lots of these have been on grass,” she associated.
“I like the grass. I really feel like my recreation fits it and I simply really feel snug on the market.”
> READ: Maddison Inglis continues magical qualifying run at Wimbledon 2024
Alex Bolt’s confidence additionally rises on grass, a floor he commonly performed on throughout his early life in South Australia’s Riverland area.
“The best way that I play fits the grass courts very effectively,” defined Bolt, who’s having fun with his deepest run in Grand Slam qualifying in nearly six years.
“It naturally helps me out with lots of my pictures, and I like to return to internet, so I suppose it enhances my recreation very effectively.”
After all, the status of Wimbledon and the prospect so as to add to Australia’s superb historical past on the match provides additional inspiration too.
“I feel each tennis participant grows up dreaming of taking part in at Wimbledon,” stated Queensland’s Kimberly Birrell after her first-round win.
James Duckworth, who’s one win away from finishing his third profitable qualifying marketing campaign at Wimbledon, agrees the occasion is “actually particular”.
“It’s one in every of my favorite tournaments of the 12 months,” he stated.
> READ: Duckworth, Bolt advance to closing qualifying spherical at Wimbledon 2024
Discover your method to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on courtroom and have some enjoyable!
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