Australia boasts one of many strongest presences among the many 36 totally different nations represented within the remaining qualifying spherical at Wimbledon 2024.
London, Nice Britain, 27 June 2024 | Leigh Rogers
Australia is without doubt one of the most closely represented nations within the remaining spherical of the Wimbledon 2024 qualifying competitors, with 5 gamers competing for a coveted main-draw spot at the moment.
It’s no coincidence that the Aussie contingent (which started with 18 gamers) has thrived on the grass courts at Roehampton both.
“It type of seems like residence in a method,” famous Olivia Gadecki, who has scored two spectacular wins to advance to the ultimate qualifying spherical for a second consecutive yr.
The 22-year-old described the camaraderie and help for Australian gamers in London all through this week as “unimaginable”.
“It’s so good that we’re on the identical event alongside each other,” Gadecki mentioned. “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 help.
Further help has come from Tennis Australia’s staff of physiotherapists, energy and conditioning coaches, in addition to sport evaluation specialists. A robust presence on the bottom on the qualifying occasion helps gamers put together bodily and tactically for his or her matches.
“It’s wonderful having loads of Aussies right here,” mentioned Li Tu, who scored a milestone first Wimbledon win earlier this week.
“Everybody actually helps one another, and it helps loads having loads of help round. It’s very nice when others take some time to return out and watch.”
A real appreciation for competing on grass courts can also be a typical pattern among the many Australian gamers.
Inglis, certainly one of two Western Australians by to the ultimate qualifying spherical, grew up taking part in on the “stunning grass courts in Perth”.
“Saturday and Sunday pennants, all of the tournaments that mum would take me to within the faculty holidays, loads of these had been on grass,” she associated.
“I like the grass. I really feel like my sport 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 repeatedly performed on throughout his adolescence in South Australia’s Riverland area.
“The way in which 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 loads of my photographs, and I like to return to internet, so I suppose it enhances my sport very effectively.”
In fact, the status of Wimbledon and the prospect so as to add to Australia’s wonderful historical past on the event provides additional inspiration too.
“I feel each tennis participant grows up dreaming of taking part in at Wimbledon,” mentioned 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 certainly one of my favorite tournaments of the yr,” he mentioned.
> READ: Duckworth, Bolt advance to remaining qualifying spherical at Wimbledon 2024
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