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The Advertiser
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
England's Hundred will have strong Australian accent
Hilton Cartwright's late call-up by Southern Brave has taken to 24 the number of Australians who will figure in this year's Hundred, the controversial white-ball franchise competition that has divided English cricket. The 31-year-old Western Australia and Melbourne Stars allrounder, capped at Test and ODI level in 2017, is an injury replacement for South African Faf du Plessis. When the competition begins on 5 August most matches will feature an Aussie accent with 13 of the 16 teams signing an Australian. Only one women's team, Brave, are without one, with 15 Australian women selected. Birmingham Phoenix, Northern Superchargers and Trent Rockets all used their full complement of three overseas players to sign Australian women. The in-demand nature of Australia's all-conquering women's team is reflected in the salaries they will receive. Six will each receive the top-tier Stg 65,000 ($A135,000) fee - Ellyse Perry, Georgia Voll, Annabel Sutherland, Phoebe Litchfield, Ash Gardner and Grace Harris, with a further five collecting the second-level Stg 50,000 ($A102,500). Fewer of the current leading Australian men have signed up with David Warner, Marcus Stoinis and Steve Smith the big-name recruits. The former will pick up Stg 100,000 ($A205,000), the latter two Stg 120,000 ($A246,000). There are also seven Australian coaches, four with men's teams, including Justin Langer at London Spirit. Also signed in Tuesday's final selection were two Englishmen at opposite ends of their careers: James Anderson, who will be 43 when the tournament starts, and Rocky Flintoff, 17, who has joined the Northern Superchargers team his father, former England allrounder Andrew, coaches. This is the last season before the impact is felt of the sale of large chunks of most teams to private owners. Several have sold stakes to Indian Premier League clubs with Sunrisers Hyderabad buying all of Northern Superchargers from hosts Yorkshire. Created by the England and Wales Cricket Board to attract new fans the competition has been fiercely opposed by traditional supporters who feel it has drawn resources away from the traditional 18-club county structure and imperils the four-day game. However, the ECB feel the sale process, which is set to bring in Stg 520m ($A1.1 billion), valuing the teams collectively at Stg 975m ($A2.0 bn), will save the sport from bankruptcy. However, those 11 counties who do not host a franchise - and most of the Hundred venues also stage Test matches - fear they will be left behind. AUSTRALIANS IN THE HUNDRED Women Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Georgia Voll (Birmingham Phoenix), Grace Harris, Georgia Redmayne (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). Men David Warner, Ashton Turner (London Spirit), Ben Dwarshuis (Northern Superchargers), Jason Behrendorff (Oval Invincibles), Hilton Cartwright (Southern Brave), Marcus Stoinis (Trent Rockets), Steve Smith, Riley Meredith, Chris Green (Welsh Fire). Hilton Cartwright's late call-up by Southern Brave has taken to 24 the number of Australians who will figure in this year's Hundred, the controversial white-ball franchise competition that has divided English cricket. The 31-year-old Western Australia and Melbourne Stars allrounder, capped at Test and ODI level in 2017, is an injury replacement for South African Faf du Plessis. When the competition begins on 5 August most matches will feature an Aussie accent with 13 of the 16 teams signing an Australian. Only one women's team, Brave, are without one, with 15 Australian women selected. Birmingham Phoenix, Northern Superchargers and Trent Rockets all used their full complement of three overseas players to sign Australian women. The in-demand nature of Australia's all-conquering women's team is reflected in the salaries they will receive. Six will each receive the top-tier Stg 65,000 ($A135,000) fee - Ellyse Perry, Georgia Voll, Annabel Sutherland, Phoebe Litchfield, Ash Gardner and Grace Harris, with a further five collecting the second-level Stg 50,000 ($A102,500). Fewer of the current leading Australian men have signed up with David Warner, Marcus Stoinis and Steve Smith the big-name recruits. The former will pick up Stg 100,000 ($A205,000), the latter two Stg 120,000 ($A246,000). There are also seven Australian coaches, four with men's teams, including Justin Langer at London Spirit. Also signed in Tuesday's final selection were two Englishmen at opposite ends of their careers: James Anderson, who will be 43 when the tournament starts, and Rocky Flintoff, 17, who has joined the Northern Superchargers team his father, former England allrounder Andrew, coaches. This is the last season before the impact is felt of the sale of large chunks of most teams to private owners. Several have sold stakes to Indian Premier League clubs with Sunrisers Hyderabad buying all of Northern Superchargers from hosts Yorkshire. Created by the England and Wales Cricket Board to attract new fans the competition has been fiercely opposed by traditional supporters who feel it has drawn resources away from the traditional 18-club county structure and imperils the four-day game. However, the ECB feel the sale process, which is set to bring in Stg 520m ($A1.1 billion), valuing the teams collectively at Stg 975m ($A2.0 bn), will save the sport from bankruptcy. However, those 11 counties who do not host a franchise - and most of the Hundred venues also stage Test matches - fear they will be left behind. AUSTRALIANS IN THE HUNDRED Women Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Georgia Voll (Birmingham Phoenix), Grace Harris, Georgia Redmayne (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). Men David Warner, Ashton Turner (London Spirit), Ben Dwarshuis (Northern Superchargers), Jason Behrendorff (Oval Invincibles), Hilton Cartwright (Southern Brave), Marcus Stoinis (Trent Rockets), Steve Smith, Riley Meredith, Chris Green (Welsh Fire). Hilton Cartwright's late call-up by Southern Brave has taken to 24 the number of Australians who will figure in this year's Hundred, the controversial white-ball franchise competition that has divided English cricket. The 31-year-old Western Australia and Melbourne Stars allrounder, capped at Test and ODI level in 2017, is an injury replacement for South African Faf du Plessis. When the competition begins on 5 August most matches will feature an Aussie accent with 13 of the 16 teams signing an Australian. Only one women's team, Brave, are without one, with 15 Australian women selected. Birmingham Phoenix, Northern Superchargers and Trent Rockets all used their full complement of three overseas players to sign Australian women. The in-demand nature of Australia's all-conquering women's team is reflected in the salaries they will receive. Six will each receive the top-tier Stg 65,000 ($A135,000) fee - Ellyse Perry, Georgia Voll, Annabel Sutherland, Phoebe Litchfield, Ash Gardner and Grace Harris, with a further five collecting the second-level Stg 50,000 ($A102,500). Fewer of the current leading Australian men have signed up with David Warner, Marcus Stoinis and Steve Smith the big-name recruits. The former will pick up Stg 100,000 ($A205,000), the latter two Stg 120,000 ($A246,000). There are also seven Australian coaches, four with men's teams, including Justin Langer at London Spirit. Also signed in Tuesday's final selection were two Englishmen at opposite ends of their careers: James Anderson, who will be 43 when the tournament starts, and Rocky Flintoff, 17, who has joined the Northern Superchargers team his father, former England allrounder Andrew, coaches. This is the last season before the impact is felt of the sale of large chunks of most teams to private owners. Several have sold stakes to Indian Premier League clubs with Sunrisers Hyderabad buying all of Northern Superchargers from hosts Yorkshire. Created by the England and Wales Cricket Board to attract new fans the competition has been fiercely opposed by traditional supporters who feel it has drawn resources away from the traditional 18-club county structure and imperils the four-day game. However, the ECB feel the sale process, which is set to bring in Stg 520m ($A1.1 billion), valuing the teams collectively at Stg 975m ($A2.0 bn), will save the sport from bankruptcy. However, those 11 counties who do not host a franchise - and most of the Hundred venues also stage Test matches - fear they will be left behind. AUSTRALIANS IN THE HUNDRED Women Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Georgia Voll (Birmingham Phoenix), Grace Harris, Georgia Redmayne (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). Men David Warner, Ashton Turner (London Spirit), Ben Dwarshuis (Northern Superchargers), Jason Behrendorff (Oval Invincibles), Hilton Cartwright (Southern Brave), Marcus Stoinis (Trent Rockets), Steve Smith, Riley Meredith, Chris Green (Welsh Fire).
Perth Now
15-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
England's Hundred will have strong Australian accent
Hilton Cartwright's late call-up by Southern Brave has taken to 24 the number of Australians who will figure in this year's Hundred, the controversial white-ball franchise competition that has divided English cricket. The 31-year-old Western Australia and Melbourne Stars allrounder, capped at Test and ODI level in 2017, is an injury replacement for South African Faf du Plessis. When the competition begins on 5 August most matches will feature an Aussie accent with 13 of the 16 teams signing an Australian. Only one women's team, Brave, are without one, with 15 Australian women selected. Birmingham Phoenix, Northern Superchargers and Trent Rockets all used their full complement of three overseas players to sign Australian women. The in-demand nature of Australia's all-conquering women's team is reflected in the salaries they will receive. Six will each receive the top-tier Stg 65,000 ($A135,000) fee - Ellyse Perry, Georgia Voll, Annabel Sutherland, Phoebe Litchfield, Ash Gardner and Grace Harris, with a further five collecting the second-level Stg 50,000 ($A102,500). Fewer of the current leading Australian men have signed up with David Warner, Marcus Stoinis and Steve Smith the big-name recruits. The former will pick up Stg 100,000 ($A205,000), the latter two Stg 120,000 ($A246,000). There are also seven Australian coaches, four with men's teams, including Justin Langer at London Spirit. Also signed in Tuesday's final selection were two Englishmen at opposite ends of their careers: James Anderson, who will be 43 when the tournament starts, and Rocky Flintoff, 17, who has joined the Northern Superchargers team his father, former England allrounder Andrew, coaches. This is the last season before the impact is felt of the sale of large chunks of most teams to private owners. Several have sold stakes to Indian Premier League clubs with Sunrisers Hyderabad buying all of Northern Superchargers from hosts Yorkshire. Created by the England and Wales Cricket Board to attract new fans the competition has been fiercely opposed by traditional supporters who feel it has drawn resources away from the traditional 18-club county structure and imperils the four-day game. However, the ECB feel the sale process, which is set to bring in Stg 520m ($A1.1 billion), valuing the teams collectively at Stg 975m ($A2.0 bn), will save the sport from bankruptcy. However, those 11 counties who do not host a franchise - and most of the Hundred venues also stage Test matches - fear they will be left behind. AUSTRALIANS IN THE HUNDRED Women Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Georgia Voll (Birmingham Phoenix), Grace Harris, Georgia Redmayne (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). Men David Warner, Ashton Turner (London Spirit), Ben Dwarshuis (Northern Superchargers), Jason Behrendorff (Oval Invincibles), Hilton Cartwright (Southern Brave), Marcus Stoinis (Trent Rockets), Steve Smith, Riley Meredith, Chris Green (Welsh Fire).
The Advertiser
24-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Jones, 16, leads Australian charge for Wimbledon places
Emerson Jones, Australia's junior world No.1, has cleared the first hurdle on the way to lining up in the main draw at Wimbledon next week. The Gold Coast world No.209, who reached the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior finals last year, progressed after a topsy-turvy encounter in the first qualifying round for the Championships on Tuesday. Jones, who turns 17 during the second week of Wimbledon, sprung a 6-1 0-6 6-0 defeat of world No.91 Antonia Ruzic in a match that lasted one hour and 23 minutes. But it was a day of mixed fortunes for her compatriots. Of the 10 Australians who took to the Roehampton courts for the first day of women's qualifying, precisely half the number survived. The other winners were Destanee Aiava, Talia Gibson, Priscilla Hon and Arina Rodionova. But there was a quick ending for Daria Saville, Maddison Inglis, Lizette Cabrera, Taylah Preston and Astra Sharma. 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 the singles draw for the famous tournament, which opens on Monday. Making the main draw will guarantee each qualifier at least a Stg 66,000 ($A137,000) pay-out even if she loses in the first round. Jones will be joined in the next round by Aiava, who reached the second round of the Australian Open in January. The Melbourne 25-year-old overcame Petra Marcinko 6-4 5-7 6-3. Brisbane's Hon also required three sets to subdue Elena Pridankina 7-5 3-6 6-1, while there were straight-sets victories for Gibson, who beat Andrea Lazaro Garcia 6-3 6-3, and the Russian-born Rodionova, who overcame Xinyu Gao 6-3 7-5 The main Australian casualty was another Russian-born hope, Saville. The 31-year-old reached the third round at Wimbledon in 2018 but could not hold off Hungarian Panna Udvardy, who triumphed 7-6 6-1. Inglis battled all the way before subsiding 6-2 3-6 7-5 (12-10) to Petra Marcic. Cabrera also put up a three-set struggle but lost out 6-4 2-6 6-3 to Anastasia Zakharova. Sharma bowed out 6-4 7-6 (7-3) to Valentina Ryser while Preston came up short against Julia Riera, losing 6-4 6-2. The main surprise of the day was French Open semi-finalist Loïs Boisson's 6-2 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 elimination by No.197-ranked Carson Branstine, of Canada. Boisson soared from No.361 to No.65 after her deep run at Roland-Garros in her Grand Slam main draw singles debut, and was top-seeded in the Wimbledon qualifying draw. Being denied a wild card into the Wimbledon main draw provoked criticism in her native France. Emerson Jones, Australia's junior world No.1, has cleared the first hurdle on the way to lining up in the main draw at Wimbledon next week. The Gold Coast world No.209, who reached the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior finals last year, progressed after a topsy-turvy encounter in the first qualifying round for the Championships on Tuesday. Jones, who turns 17 during the second week of Wimbledon, sprung a 6-1 0-6 6-0 defeat of world No.91 Antonia Ruzic in a match that lasted one hour and 23 minutes. But it was a day of mixed fortunes for her compatriots. Of the 10 Australians who took to the Roehampton courts for the first day of women's qualifying, precisely half the number survived. The other winners were Destanee Aiava, Talia Gibson, Priscilla Hon and Arina Rodionova. But there was a quick ending for Daria Saville, Maddison Inglis, Lizette Cabrera, Taylah Preston and Astra Sharma. 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 the singles draw for the famous tournament, which opens on Monday. Making the main draw will guarantee each qualifier at least a Stg 66,000 ($A137,000) pay-out even if she loses in the first round. Jones will be joined in the next round by Aiava, who reached the second round of the Australian Open in January. The Melbourne 25-year-old overcame Petra Marcinko 6-4 5-7 6-3. Brisbane's Hon also required three sets to subdue Elena Pridankina 7-5 3-6 6-1, while there were straight-sets victories for Gibson, who beat Andrea Lazaro Garcia 6-3 6-3, and the Russian-born Rodionova, who overcame Xinyu Gao 6-3 7-5 The main Australian casualty was another Russian-born hope, Saville. The 31-year-old reached the third round at Wimbledon in 2018 but could not hold off Hungarian Panna Udvardy, who triumphed 7-6 6-1. Inglis battled all the way before subsiding 6-2 3-6 7-5 (12-10) to Petra Marcic. Cabrera also put up a three-set struggle but lost out 6-4 2-6 6-3 to Anastasia Zakharova. Sharma bowed out 6-4 7-6 (7-3) to Valentina Ryser while Preston came up short against Julia Riera, losing 6-4 6-2. The main surprise of the day was French Open semi-finalist Loïs Boisson's 6-2 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 elimination by No.197-ranked Carson Branstine, of Canada. Boisson soared from No.361 to No.65 after her deep run at Roland-Garros in her Grand Slam main draw singles debut, and was top-seeded in the Wimbledon qualifying draw. Being denied a wild card into the Wimbledon main draw provoked criticism in her native France. Emerson Jones, Australia's junior world No.1, has cleared the first hurdle on the way to lining up in the main draw at Wimbledon next week. The Gold Coast world No.209, who reached the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior finals last year, progressed after a topsy-turvy encounter in the first qualifying round for the Championships on Tuesday. Jones, who turns 17 during the second week of Wimbledon, sprung a 6-1 0-6 6-0 defeat of world No.91 Antonia Ruzic in a match that lasted one hour and 23 minutes. But it was a day of mixed fortunes for her compatriots. Of the 10 Australians who took to the Roehampton courts for the first day of women's qualifying, precisely half the number survived. The other winners were Destanee Aiava, Talia Gibson, Priscilla Hon and Arina Rodionova. But there was a quick ending for Daria Saville, Maddison Inglis, Lizette Cabrera, Taylah Preston and Astra Sharma. 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 the singles draw for the famous tournament, which opens on Monday. Making the main draw will guarantee each qualifier at least a Stg 66,000 ($A137,000) pay-out even if she loses in the first round. Jones will be joined in the next round by Aiava, who reached the second round of the Australian Open in January. The Melbourne 25-year-old overcame Petra Marcinko 6-4 5-7 6-3. Brisbane's Hon also required three sets to subdue Elena Pridankina 7-5 3-6 6-1, while there were straight-sets victories for Gibson, who beat Andrea Lazaro Garcia 6-3 6-3, and the Russian-born Rodionova, who overcame Xinyu Gao 6-3 7-5 The main Australian casualty was another Russian-born hope, Saville. The 31-year-old reached the third round at Wimbledon in 2018 but could not hold off Hungarian Panna Udvardy, who triumphed 7-6 6-1. Inglis battled all the way before subsiding 6-2 3-6 7-5 (12-10) to Petra Marcic. Cabrera also put up a three-set struggle but lost out 6-4 2-6 6-3 to Anastasia Zakharova. Sharma bowed out 6-4 7-6 (7-3) to Valentina Ryser while Preston came up short against Julia Riera, losing 6-4 6-2. The main surprise of the day was French Open semi-finalist Loïs Boisson's 6-2 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 elimination by No.197-ranked Carson Branstine, of Canada. Boisson soared from No.361 to No.65 after her deep run at Roland-Garros in her Grand Slam main draw singles debut, and was top-seeded in the Wimbledon qualifying draw. Being denied a wild card into the Wimbledon main draw provoked criticism in her native France. Emerson Jones, Australia's junior world No.1, has cleared the first hurdle on the way to lining up in the main draw at Wimbledon next week. The Gold Coast world No.209, who reached the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior finals last year, progressed after a topsy-turvy encounter in the first qualifying round for the Championships on Tuesday. Jones, who turns 17 during the second week of Wimbledon, sprung a 6-1 0-6 6-0 defeat of world No.91 Antonia Ruzic in a match that lasted one hour and 23 minutes. But it was a day of mixed fortunes for her compatriots. Of the 10 Australians who took to the Roehampton courts for the first day of women's qualifying, precisely half the number survived. The other winners were Destanee Aiava, Talia Gibson, Priscilla Hon and Arina Rodionova. But there was a quick ending for Daria Saville, Maddison Inglis, Lizette Cabrera, Taylah Preston and Astra Sharma. 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 the singles draw for the famous tournament, which opens on Monday. Making the main draw will guarantee each qualifier at least a Stg 66,000 ($A137,000) pay-out even if she loses in the first round. Jones will be joined in the next round by Aiava, who reached the second round of the Australian Open in January. The Melbourne 25-year-old overcame Petra Marcinko 6-4 5-7 6-3. Brisbane's Hon also required three sets to subdue Elena Pridankina 7-5 3-6 6-1, while there were straight-sets victories for Gibson, who beat Andrea Lazaro Garcia 6-3 6-3, and the Russian-born Rodionova, who overcame Xinyu Gao 6-3 7-5 The main Australian casualty was another Russian-born hope, Saville. The 31-year-old reached the third round at Wimbledon in 2018 but could not hold off Hungarian Panna Udvardy, who triumphed 7-6 6-1. Inglis battled all the way before subsiding 6-2 3-6 7-5 (12-10) to Petra Marcic. Cabrera also put up a three-set struggle but lost out 6-4 2-6 6-3 to Anastasia Zakharova. Sharma bowed out 6-4 7-6 (7-3) to Valentina Ryser while Preston came up short against Julia Riera, losing 6-4 6-2. The main surprise of the day was French Open semi-finalist Loïs Boisson's 6-2 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 elimination by No.197-ranked Carson Branstine, of Canada. Boisson soared from No.361 to No.65 after her deep run at Roland-Garros in her Grand Slam main draw singles debut, and was top-seeded in the Wimbledon qualifying draw. Being denied a wild card into the Wimbledon main draw provoked criticism in her native France.
Perth Now
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Jones, 16, leads Australian charge for Wimbledon places
Emerson Jones, Australia's junior world No.1, has cleared the first hurdle on the way to lining up in the main draw at Wimbledon next week. The Gold Coast world No.209, who reached the Australian Open and Wimbledon junior finals last year, progressed after a topsy-turvy encounter in the first qualifying round for the Championships on Tuesday. Jones, who turns 17 during the second week of Wimbledon, sprung a 6-1 0-6 6-0 defeat of world No.91 Antonia Ruzic in a match that lasted one hour and 23 minutes. But it was a day of mixed fortunes for her compatriots. Of the 10 Australians who took to the Roehampton courts for the first day of women's qualifying, precisely half the number survived. The other winners were Destanee Aiava, Talia Gibson, Priscilla Hon and Arina Rodionova. But there was a quick ending for Daria Saville, Maddison Inglis, Lizette Cabrera, Taylah Preston and Astra Sharma. 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 the singles draw for the famous tournament, which opens on Monday. Making the main draw will guarantee each qualifier at least a Stg 66,000 ($A137,000) pay-out even if she loses in the first round. Jones will be joined in the next round by Aiava, who reached the second round of the Australian Open in January. The Melbourne 25-year-old overcame Petra Marcinko 6-4 5-7 6-3. Brisbane's Hon also required three sets to subdue Elena Pridankina 7-5 3-6 6-1, while there were straight-sets victories for Gibson, who beat Andrea Lazaro Garcia 6-3 6-3, and the Russian-born Rodionova, who overcame Xinyu Gao 6-3 7-5 The main Australian casualty was another Russian-born hope, Saville. The 31-year-old reached the third round at Wimbledon in 2018 but could not hold off Hungarian Panna Udvardy, who triumphed 7-6 6-1. Inglis battled all the way before subsiding 6-2 3-6 7-5 (12-10) to Petra Marcic. Cabrera also put up a three-set struggle but lost out 6-4 2-6 6-3 to Anastasia Zakharova. Sharma bowed out 6-4 7-6 (7-3) to Valentina Ryser while Preston came up short against Julia Riera, losing 6-4 6-2. The main surprise of the day was French Open semi-finalist Loïs Boisson's 6-2 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 elimination by No.197-ranked Carson Branstine, of Canada. Boisson soared from No.361 to No.65 after her deep run at Roland-Garros in her Grand Slam main draw singles debut, and was top-seeded in the Wimbledon qualifying draw. Being denied a wild card into the Wimbledon main draw provoked criticism in her native France.
The Advertiser
22-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Aussie army of 16 seek golden tickets for Wimbledon
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. 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.
