West Australian’s Storm Hunter and Matt Ebden are among 20 Aussies scheduled to compete on day nine at Australian Open 2024.
An all-Australian mixed doubles showdown is on the schedule on day nine at Australian Open 2024.
Top seeds Storm Hunter and Matt Ebden take on wildcards Jaimee Fourlis and Andrew Harris in second-round action at Court 3 this evening.
They scored a straight-sets win over the reigning Wimbledon champions, Lyudmyla Kichenok and Mate Pavic in the first round.
World No.1 Hunter described the all-Australian meeting as “only a good thing”.
“We’ll try to get the W, but either way, Aussies are going through,” the 29-year-old said.
World No.4 Ebden, who is also scheduled to play a third round men’s doubles match today, agreed it’s a positive to face compatriots on the Grand Slam stage.
“The great strength of Australian tennis is shining through,” the 36-year-old said.
“They’re Aussies everywhere, so we’re bound to play each other.”
Storm Hunter will also play in the women’s doubles quarter-final tomorrow with partner Katerina Siniakova.
It is the third consecutive year that Hunter has reached this stage in the Australian Open women’s doubles competition, making her the first Aussie to achieve this feat since Rennae Stubbs in 2000.
World No.1 Hunter and world No.13 Siniakova sealed their progression with a commanding 6-2 6-2 victory against Ekaterina Alexandrova and Anna Kalinskaya at Kia Arena yesterday.
It was a near-perfect match for Hunter and Siniakova, who tallied 28 winners, committed just two unforced errors and conceded only 13 points on serve.
After making slow starts in their opening two rounds, the third seeds required only 71 minutes to triumph in their third-round encounter.
“We’re a new partnership, so still working it out on the court,” Hunter said.
“The most important thing is that we’re really enjoying it and working together as a team. We’re super happy to be in the quarterfinals.”
Hunter and Siniakova’s quarterfinal opponents are yet to be decided.
It could be Czech Barbora Krejcikova and her German partner Laura Siegemund, if they beat Emma Navarro and Diana Shnaider in the third round.
Krejcikova is Siniakova’s former long-time partner and eliminated Hunter in a three-set third-round singles battle earlier this week.
Men’s doubles, third round
[2] Matt Ebden (AUS)/Rohan Bopanna (IND) v [14] Wesley Koolhof (NED)/Nikola Mektic (CRO), Kia Arena, third match
Mixed doubles, second round
[1] Storm Hunter (AUS)/Matt Ebden (AUS) v [WC] Jaimee Fourlis (AUS)/Andrew Harris (AUS), Court 3, fifth match
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