Aussie army of 16 seek golden tickets for Wimbledon
With 13 Australians - eight man and five women - already guaranteed in the main draw next week, recent Ilkley Trophy winner Schoolkate will spearhead the challenge to join them in the cut-throat qualifying tournament at nearby Roehampton.
Players will have to come through three qualifying matches at the venue 5km from the All England Club to nail down one of the coveted 16 places in each of the singles draws a week on Monday.
Making the main draw will guarantee each qualifier at least a Stg 66,000 ($A137,000) pay-out even if he or she loses in the first round.
Schoolkate, who earned the biggest win of his burgeoning career at the picturesque Challenger event in Ilkley that likes to dub itself the 'Wimbledon of the North', has moved to 102 in the rankings and seeks a maiden appearance at the grass-court slam.
The 24-year-old, who's second seed for the qualifying event, opens on Monday against Argentine world No.198 Facundo Diaz Acosta.
Last year, Alex Bolt had just 10 minutes notice as an alternate that he would be a late replacement in the qualifying draw and went on to surprise everyone, not least himself, by going on to battle into the main draw.
This year, somewhat better prepared, the 32-year-old Murray Bridge veteran will face Frenchman Harold Mayot first up, hoping to make the main draw for a fourth time.
Four other Aussie men - Li Tu, Jason Kubler, James McCabe and Omar Jasika - will also open their bids on Monday while the world No.1 junior Emerson Jones will lead the women's qualifying challenge that begins on Tuesday.
Jones, who reached the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior finals last year, will be joined in the draw by Talia Gibson, Priscilla Hon, Daria Saville, Astra Sharma, Destanee Aiava, Maddison Inglis, Lizette Cabrera, Arina Rodionova and Taylah Preston.
Meanwhile, even though Alex de Minaur is not in action in any of the final pre-Wimbledon grass-court events after his early exit at Queen's Club, seven SW19-bound Australians will feature in the final warm-up tournaments this week.
James Duckworth beat British wildcard Johannus Monday 6-4 6-2 and Aleksandar Vukic downed American Jenson Brooksby 7-5 6-3 to book their places in the Eastbourne International men's main draw.
Kim Birrell also made it to the traditional seaside event, defeating Anna Bondar 6-2 6-3 in Eastbourne qualifying, to join the country's top pair, Daria Kasatkina and Maya Joint, in the women's event.
Ajla Tomljanovic, a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, beat Germany's Eva Lys, who retired when 6-4 3-2 down, to make it into the Bad Homburg WTA main draw.
But the Aussie result of the day was achieved by a man who won't be heading to Wimbledon -- the enigmatic 32-year-old Bernie Tomic who reached the main draw of the Mallorca ATP event by defeating US world No.77 Aleksandar Kovacevic 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 for his first win over a top-100 player in more than two years.
Remarkably, now down at 243 in the rankings, Tomic booked his place in a tour-level event for the first time since he qualified for the 2021 Australian Open, and he'll face compatriot Rinky Hijikata in Monday's first round.
Tristan Schoolkate, Australia's lone tournament winner of the grass-court season, will lead a 16-strong green-and-gold contingent seeking Wimbledon places -- and lucrative pay packets -- this week.
With 13 Australians - eight man and five women - already guaranteed in the main draw next week, recent Ilkley Trophy winner Schoolkate will spearhead the challenge to join them in the cut-throat qualifying tournament at nearby Roehampton.
Players will have to come through three qualifying matches at the venue 5km from the All England Club to nail down one of the coveted 16 places in each of the singles draws a week on Monday.
Making the main draw will guarantee each qualifier at least a Stg 66,000 ($A137,000) pay-out even if he or she loses in the first round.
Schoolkate, who earned the biggest win of his burgeoning career at the picturesque Challenger event in Ilkley that likes to dub itself the 'Wimbledon of the North', has moved to 102 in the rankings and seeks a maiden appearance at the grass-court slam.
The 24-year-old, who's second seed for the qualifying event, opens on Monday against Argentine world No.198 Facundo Diaz Acosta.
Last year, Alex Bolt had just 10 minutes notice as an alternate that he would be a late replacement in the qualifying draw and went on to surprise everyone, not least himself, by going on to battle into the main draw.
This year, somewhat better prepared, the 32-year-old Murray Bridge veteran will face Frenchman Harold Mayot first up, hoping to make the main draw for a fourth time.
Four other Aussie men - Li Tu, Jason Kubler, James McCabe and Omar Jasika - will also open their bids on Monday while the world No.1 junior Emerson Jones will lead the women's qualifying challenge that begins on Tuesday.
Jones, who reached the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior finals last year, will be joined in the draw by Talia Gibson, Priscilla Hon, Daria Saville, Astra Sharma, Destanee Aiava, Maddison Inglis, Lizette Cabrera, Arina Rodionova and Taylah Preston.
Meanwhile, even though Alex de Minaur is not in action in any of the final pre-Wimbledon grass-court events after his early exit at Queen's Club, seven SW19-bound Australians will feature in the final warm-up tournaments this week.
James Duckworth beat British wildcard Johannus Monday 6-4 6-2 and Aleksandar Vukic downed American Jenson Brooksby 7-5 6-3 to book their places in the Eastbourne International men's main draw.
Kim Birrell also made it to the traditional seaside event, defeating Anna Bondar 6-2 6-3 in Eastbourne qualifying, to join the country's top pair, Daria Kasatkina and Maya Joint, in the women's event.
Ajla Tomljanovic, a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, beat Germany's Eva Lys, who retired when 6-4 3-2 down, to make it into the Bad Homburg WTA main draw.
But the Aussie result of the day was achieved by a man who won't be heading to Wimbledon -- the enigmatic 32-year-old Bernie Tomic who reached the main draw of the Mallorca ATP event by defeating US world No.77 Aleksandar Kovacevic 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 for his first win over a top-100 player in more than two years.
Remarkably, now down at 243 in the rankings, Tomic booked his place in a tour-level event for the first time since he qualified for the 2021 Australian Open, and he'll face compatriot Rinky Hijikata in Monday's first round.
Tristan Schoolkate, Australia's lone tournament winner of the grass-court season, will lead a 16-strong green-and-gold contingent seeking Wimbledon places -- and lucrative pay packets -- this week.
With 13 Australians - eight man and five women - already guaranteed in the main draw next week, recent Ilkley Trophy winner Schoolkate will spearhead the challenge to join them in the cut-throat qualifying tournament at nearby Roehampton.
Players will have to come through three qualifying matches at the venue 5km from the All England Club to nail down one of the coveted 16 places in each of the singles draws a week on Monday.
Making the main draw will guarantee each qualifier at least a Stg 66,000 ($A137,000) pay-out even if he or she loses in the first round.
Schoolkate, who earned the biggest win of his burgeoning career at the picturesque Challenger event in Ilkley that likes to dub itself the 'Wimbledon of the North', has moved to 102 in the rankings and seeks a maiden appearance at the grass-court slam.
The 24-year-old, who's second seed for the qualifying event, opens on Monday against Argentine world No.198 Facundo Diaz Acosta.
Last year, Alex Bolt had just 10 minutes notice as an alternate that he would be a late replacement in the qualifying draw and went on to surprise everyone, not least himself, by going on to battle into the main draw.
This year, somewhat better prepared, the 32-year-old Murray Bridge veteran will face Frenchman Harold Mayot first up, hoping to make the main draw for a fourth time.
Four other Aussie men - Li Tu, Jason Kubler, James McCabe and Omar Jasika - will also open their bids on Monday while the world No.1 junior Emerson Jones will lead the women's qualifying challenge that begins on Tuesday.
Jones, who reached the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior finals last year, will be joined in the draw by Talia Gibson, Priscilla Hon, Daria Saville, Astra Sharma, Destanee Aiava, Maddison Inglis, Lizette Cabrera, Arina Rodionova and Taylah Preston.
Meanwhile, even though Alex de Minaur is not in action in any of the final pre-Wimbledon grass-court events after his early exit at Queen's Club, seven SW19-bound Australians will feature in the final warm-up tournaments this week.
James Duckworth beat British wildcard Johannus Monday 6-4 6-2 and Aleksandar Vukic downed American Jenson Brooksby 7-5 6-3 to book their places in the Eastbourne International men's main draw.
Kim Birrell also made it to the traditional seaside event, defeating Anna Bondar 6-2 6-3 in Eastbourne qualifying, to join the country's top pair, Daria Kasatkina and Maya Joint, in the women's event.
Ajla Tomljanovic, a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, beat Germany's Eva Lys, who retired when 6-4 3-2 down, to make it into the Bad Homburg WTA main draw.
But the Aussie result of the day was achieved by a man who won't be heading to Wimbledon -- the enigmatic 32-year-old Bernie Tomic who reached the main draw of the Mallorca ATP event by defeating US world No.77 Aleksandar Kovacevic 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 for his first win over a top-100 player in more than two years.
Remarkably, now down at 243 in the rankings, Tomic booked his place in a tour-level event for the first time since he qualified for the 2021 Australian Open, and he'll face compatriot Rinky Hijikata in Monday's first round.
Tristan Schoolkate, Australia's lone tournament winner of the grass-court season, will lead a 16-strong green-and-gold contingent seeking Wimbledon places -- and lucrative pay packets -- this week.
With 13 Australians - eight man and five women - already guaranteed in the main draw next week, recent Ilkley Trophy winner Schoolkate will spearhead the challenge to join them in the cut-throat qualifying tournament at nearby Roehampton.
Players will have to come through three qualifying matches at the venue 5km from the All England Club to nail down one of the coveted 16 places in each of the singles draws a week on Monday.
Making the main draw will guarantee each qualifier at least a Stg 66,000 ($A137,000) pay-out even if he or she loses in the first round.
Schoolkate, who earned the biggest win of his burgeoning career at the picturesque Challenger event in Ilkley that likes to dub itself the 'Wimbledon of the North', has moved to 102 in the rankings and seeks a maiden appearance at the grass-court slam.
The 24-year-old, who's second seed for the qualifying event, opens on Monday against Argentine world No.198 Facundo Diaz Acosta.
Last year, Alex Bolt had just 10 minutes notice as an alternate that he would be a late replacement in the qualifying draw and went on to surprise everyone, not least himself, by going on to battle into the main draw.
This year, somewhat better prepared, the 32-year-old Murray Bridge veteran will face Frenchman Harold Mayot first up, hoping to make the main draw for a fourth time.
Four other Aussie men - Li Tu, Jason Kubler, James McCabe and Omar Jasika - will also open their bids on Monday while the world No.1 junior Emerson Jones will lead the women's qualifying challenge that begins on Tuesday.
Jones, who reached the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior finals last year, will be joined in the draw by Talia Gibson, Priscilla Hon, Daria Saville, Astra Sharma, Destanee Aiava, Maddison Inglis, Lizette Cabrera, Arina Rodionova and Taylah Preston.
Meanwhile, even though Alex de Minaur is not in action in any of the final pre-Wimbledon grass-court events after his early exit at Queen's Club, seven SW19-bound Australians will feature in the final warm-up tournaments this week.
James Duckworth beat British wildcard Johannus Monday 6-4 6-2 and Aleksandar Vukic downed American Jenson Brooksby 7-5 6-3 to book their places in the Eastbourne International men's main draw.
Kim Birrell also made it to the traditional seaside event, defeating Anna Bondar 6-2 6-3 in Eastbourne qualifying, to join the country's top pair, Daria Kasatkina and Maya Joint, in the women's event.
Ajla Tomljanovic, a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist, beat Germany's Eva Lys, who retired when 6-4 3-2 down, to make it into the Bad Homburg WTA main draw.
But the Aussie result of the day was achieved by a man who won't be heading to Wimbledon -- the enigmatic 32-year-old Bernie Tomic who reached the main draw of the Mallorca ATP event by defeating US world No.77 Aleksandar Kovacevic 7-6 (7-2) 6-3 for his first win over a top-100 player in more than two years.
Remarkably, now down at 243 in the rankings, Tomic booked his place in a tour-level event for the first time since he qualified for the 2021 Australian Open, and he'll face compatriot Rinky Hijikata in Monday's first round.
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Warner's Hundred debut stalls as Spirit are downed
David Warner's debut in England's Hundred competition has fallen flat, the Australian opener dismissed for a ten-ball nine and his London Spirit side thrashed by their capital rivals Oval Invincibles at Lord's. It was his first appearance at the self-styled Home of Cricket since the Test match two years ago in which he was abused in the Long Room by members after Alex Carey controversially ran out Jonny Bairstow. The former Australia Test opener spiced up his bow by criticising England hero Joe Root's batting, suggesting he "take the surfboard off his front leg", if he was to finally make an Ashes hundred Down Under. But there was no obvious antagonism from the crowd when he ran out to open through a cloud of firework smoke as Spirit batted first. Warner is one of the big names lured by higher paydays to add lustre to the competition, with Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis also involved. The 38-year-old is picking up Stg 100,000 ($A205,000) and the other two Stg 120,000 ($A246,000). His high profile in England is clear from the event using his image in social media to promote the competition. However, Warner was unable to follow the example set by his compatriots Grace Harris and Meg Lanning, who made 89 not out and 85 respectively in the preceding women's match in the double-header. 🗣️ "I'm pumped!"David Warner on playing for the London Spirit at The Hundred 🙌 Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 5, 2025 David Warner has a pre-match chat with Stuart Broad He saw little of the strike early on as Spirit struggled to adapt to a slow pitch that took spin, and hit one four before his dismissal, caught at long-on trying to whack Jordan Clark's slower ball. That left Spirit 3-26 from 31 balls and it didn't get any better, being dismissed for 80, the second lowest men's score in the competition's five years,. Invincibles, the defending champions, cruised to victory with six wickets and 31 balls to spare, hitting the night's only six to win it Ashton Turner was Spirit's top scorer with 21 but the Australian who did best was Invincibles' Jason Behrendorff who took 17-1 in his 20 balls, taking the wicket of Spirit captain Kane Williamson. Afghanistan legspinner Rashid Khan was the star turn, taking 3-11 in 20 balls while Sam Curran claimed 3-18. It wasn't just a London derby, there was also a West Australian coaching clash in which Tom Moody came out well on top against Justin Langer, though as the latter observed, he's barely had 48 hours to work with the team. The coaching test will be where they are at when these teams meet again at the end of the league on August 25. Langer clearly has a lot more work on his hands than Moody, who's aiming for a three-peat with Invincibles. AUSTRALIAN MEN IN THE HUNDRED David Warner, Ashton Turner *Dan Worrell (London Spirit), Jason Behrendorff, *Nathan Sowter (Oval Invincibles), Hilton Cartwright (Southern Brave), Marcus Stoinis (Trent Rockets), Steve Smith, Riley Meredith, Chris Green (Welsh Fire). *selected as an English-qualified player
News.com.au
4 hours ago
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‘Pokie in your pocket': How Aussie teens are getting hooked on gambling
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'You can be popular, you can buy nice stuff, and linked to that here's this fun thing you can do with your friends. That's more attractive to adolescents. They're going to be very socially driven, it's all about peer belonging. They're all about self-comparison, they're more impulsive and they're less able to quantify risk.'
Perth Now
6 hours ago
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Aussie women launch England's Hundred in brutal fashion
Grace Harris has cracked a rapid 89 not out to win the opening game of The Hundred at Lord's. (Russell Freeman/AAP PHOTOS) Grace Harris has cracked a rapid 89 not out to win the opening game of The Hundred at Lord's. (Russell Freeman/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP The fifth season of England's Hundred competition has been launched with a blizzard of sixes, mostly hit by Australians Grace Harris and Meg Lanning. Harris hit a competition record-equalling six sixes in her 42-ball 89 not out, but was nearly upstaged by her former Australian captain Lanning, who hit five of them before being dismissed for 85 off 51 balls. Her departure sealed London Spirit's victory over capital rivals Oval Invincibles by 17 runs. The match was the first half of a double-header at Lords to kick-off the controversial competition, in which both sides receive 100 balls bowled in 'sets' of five, with the men, including Spirit's David Warner, following. It was a stunning opening with a competition record 15 sixes in all. Harris led the defending champions to 5-176, the second highest score in the competition's history. The Queenslander was brutal on former Australia teammate Amanda Jade-Wellington, who went for 38 off her 15 balls - but she did have Harris dropped on 22. The other Australians in Spirit's team fared less well. Georgia Redmayne, opening the innings, struggled to a six-ball duck. Charli Knott, recruited late to replace the unavailable Indian star Deepti Sharma, made one off four. Harris put on 100 with Englishwoman Cordelia Griffith (50 off 29), a team record, in 52 balls. "I loved it out there," she said. "When you have a wicket like this, you want to cash in as a batter." On the secret to her clean hitting she suggested "genetics maybe?" before focussing on good prep, technique and an unconventional diet for an athlete. "Three gym sessions a week. Your handspeed as well. Your feet don't have to move well but a still base and you can time balls for six with your hands. "A few burgers in there. I have been living on dumplings since I have been over in England and it seems to be working! No Harris is a small human being, so I will take it." "She is very powerful and makes it look easy," said Lanning of Harris. "Fair play to her, she was too good. "They set a great total and we were a bit behind. I couldn't get going early on. Once I found some tempo, I had some momentum going." True enough, prior to being out Lanning went 6,4,4,6 and looked about to mastermind a heist over the team she played for last season. There are 16 Australians in the women's competition in all, with all but one of the eight sides having an Aussie. This is the last season solely under the control of the England and Wales Cricket Board with large chunks of most teams sold to private owners, half of them Indian Premier League clubs. This has raised $A1 billion for the sport in England, though that hasn't quelled criticism from traditionalists who fear it threatens the county structure and annexes the key summer month of August. However, besides the cash The Hundred has succeeded in its aim of attracting a new audience - this midweek afternoon women's match drew 15,640 to Lord's. Australian officials, pondering the future of the Big Bash League, will have taken note. AUSTRALIAN WOMEN IN THE HUNDRED Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Georgia Voll (Birmingham Phoenix), Grace Harris, Georgia Redmayne, Charli Knott (London Spirit), Beth Mooney (Manchester Originals), Phoebe Litchfield, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham (Northern Superchargers), Amanda-Jade Wellington, Meg Lanning (Oval Invincibles), Ash Gardner, Alana King, Heather Graham (Trent Rockets), Jess Jonassen (Welsh Fire).
