British Hopes Tested At Australian Open 2026

The 2026 Australian Open has delivered a whirlwind of drama and determination for British tennis, with both seasoned names and rising stars battling it out on the hard courts of Melbourne Park. Entering the tournament, hopes were high after a resurgent 2025 season that saw Jack Draper rocket to world No. 4, Cam Norrie defeat Carlos Alcaraz, and Emma Raducanu return to the Top 30. Yet, as the dust settles, it’s clear that fortune hasn’t entirely favored the British contingent this time around.

Jack Draper, who stormed the ATP rankings last year with a Masters 1000 title and another final, was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open due to injury. That left the spotlight on Cam Norrie, the British No. 2, who was determined to make a deep run and perhaps even exorcise the ghosts of previous encounters with world No. 3 Alexander Zverev.

Norrie’s campaign kicked off with a marathon five-setter against France’s Benjamin Bonzi. Saving 15 of 17 break points and converting 6 of 13 of his own, Norrie ground out a 6-0, 6-7 (2), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory after three hours and 39 minutes. The Brit’s resilience was on full display, and as he later commented, “I was playing so free, enjoying the match so much, coming forward a lot. I was troubling him a lot and mixing it up a lot. I think I’m going to have to sprinkle some of that in, for sure.”

In the second round, Norrie faced Emilio Nava in a contest interrupted by an ill-timed rain delay. Undeterred, he returned to clinch a 6-1, 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (5) win, showcasing his trademark composure in two crucial tie-breaks. His ability to handle big moments has set him apart this tournament, and ATP statistics back it up: over the last 52 weeks, Norrie has saved 65.5% of break points faced (18th on tour), outpacing Zverev’s 62.5%.

Heading into the third round, Norrie was set for a prime-time showdown with Zverev on John Cain Arena. The matchup was more than just a battle for a spot in the fourth round; it was a chance for Norrie to break a six-match losing streak against the German, including a gut-wrenching five-set defeat in Melbourne just a year prior. “I think maybe in that fifth set tie-break I missed a couple shots I would not usually go for. I think I’ll just be a bit tougher in that tie-break. He was playing the extra ball,” Norrie reflected on their last encounter.

Preparation was key. Norrie planned to mix up his game, using drop shots and net approaches to disrupt Zverev’s rhythm. “I used the drop shot unreal that day,” he recalled. “Expect to see Norrie add a bit more variety to his game against Zverev to try and take away some of the third seed’s big weapons on his groundstrokes,” noted ATP analysts. The Brit’s relentless physicality and willingness to turn matches into four- or five-set dogfights have become his calling cards. “It’s a match I feel quite comfortable with, especially in the rally I’m going to get rhythm. I’m going to have to really push him and make him uncomfortable, like I said, for four hours to have a chance with him because he’s a very complete player.”

On the other side of the net, Zverev entered the clash with his own concerns. He had taken a medical timeout in the previous round due to Achilles tendon worries, though he assured the press, “I took a pain killer and it was fine after that. I’m not someone that takes a lot of medical timeouts, but I was a bit scared because it was towards the Achilles tendon and there have been a lot of Achilles tendon injuries in the past on tour. I was a bit afraid. I just wanted the physio to check it out, but after the medical timeout I was playing fine. I was moving fine. I hope tomorrow it’s going to be fine as well.”

Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Jacob Fearnley, ranked 74th, couldn’t replicate his 2025 heroics in Melbourne and bowed out in the first round to Kamil Majchrzak 7-6 (2), 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3). Arthur Fery, a new face in the main draw, made a statement with a straight-sets win over Flavio Cobolli in the opening round—his mother’s last-minute dash to Australia proving worthwhile. Fery’s run ended in the second round at the hands of Tomas Martin Etcheverry, but his progress bodes well for the future of British men’s tennis.

The women’s side saw Emma Raducanu continue her return to form. Ranked 29th, she opened with a comeback win over Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-4, 6-1, under the lights of Margaret Court Arena. However, her run was halted in the second round by Anastasia Potapova, who dispatched her 7-6 (3), 6-2. Raducanu’s consistency across all four Grand Slams in 2025 and her spirited performance at Wimbledon last year, where she pushed world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to the brink, have fans optimistic about her trajectory.

Sonay Kartal, who broke into the top 50 last year and made her main draw debuts at all four majors, struggled in Melbourne. She suffered a first-round exit to Anna Kalinskaya, 7-6 (3), 6-1, a result she described as her worst performance in years. Francesca Jones, whose rise to world No. 72 has been nothing short of inspirational given her Ectodermal Dysplasia, retired in tears from her first-round match after a gluteal injury compounded her pre-existing groin issue.

Katie Boulter, the British No. 4, received a wildcard after slipping outside the top 100. She faced a daunting first-round opponent in Belinda Bencic and, despite rallying in the second set, fell 6-0, 7-5. Boulter’s recent struggles with form have been well documented, but her wildcard entry and fighting spirit keep her in the conversation for future tournaments.

Qualifying rounds proved tough for other British hopefuls, with Harriet Dart, Mimi Xu, Billy Harris, Jan Choinski, Dan Evans, Oliver Crawford, Jack Pinnington Jones, Ryan Peniston, George Loffhagen, and Jay Clarke all failing to make the main draw.

Looking back, 2025 was a banner year for British tennis, but the 2026 Australian Open has been a humbling reminder of the sport’s relentless competitiveness. As the tournament moves forward, all eyes remain on Cam Norrie’s efforts to break new ground and on the continued development of the next wave of British talent. The journey may have hit a few speed bumps in Melbourne, but the fighting spirit of these players ensures that British tennis remains firmly in the global conversation.