Andy and Jamie Murray, Katie Boulter, and Jack Draper will all be in action at Wimbledon on Thursday. Catch the Hamburg, Swiss, and Palermo Open, exclusively live on Sky Sports Tennis following Wimbledon.
Andy and Jamie Murray will team up as Britain’s top tennis stars take the court on a thrilling Thursday at Wimbledon.
The Murray Brothers Return
Two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray will shift his focus to the doubles competition, pairing with his older brother Jamie, following his recovery from back surgery. Reflecting on his career, Andy Murray said, “I’m hoping for, when it comes to the end, maybe a bit of closure. I just want the opportunity to play one more time out there, hopefully on Centre Court, and… feel that buzz.”
The Murray brothers will face Australians Rinky Hijikata and John Peers, with a potential second-round clash against Neal Skupski and Michael Venus.
Boulter vs. Dart: Battle of Britain’s Top Women
British No. 1 Katie Boulter will face British No. 2 Harriet Dart in an all-British second-round match. Boulter set up this encounter after overcoming a slow start to defeat former Wimbledon semi-finalist Tatjana Maria. Boulter commented, “Playing a Brit in the UK on the grass is never an easy draw and I’m expecting an absolute battle.”
This will be their eighth meeting, with Boulter having won six of their previous encounters, including their recent match in Nottingham. Dart expressed her excitement, saying, “We’re teammates, we played big tournaments, we’ve grown up together. It’s great to see that all of us are doing well and putting us in positions where we do get to play each other.”
Draper vs. Norrie: The Men’s Showdown
Jack Draper will take on Cameron Norrie, just weeks after surpassing Norrie as Britain’s top male player. Draper noted their mutual respect, saying, “I think we have huge respect for each other. We’ve practiced together so many times and been a part of Davis Cup together.”
Despite Draper’s recent rise, Norrie is ready for the challenge, stating, “I would say yeah, definitely, he’s ranked ahead of me. His results have been better than mine, especially over the grass-court season. For me, it’s a surprise kind of being the underdog for the first time in a while. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Fearnley Faces Djokovic
Wild card Jacob Fearnley will face a daunting task against seven-time champion Novak Djokovic. Fearnley, who recently completed a five-year stint at Texas Christian University, expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s going to be a little bit intimidating, but it’s a match that I’m super excited for. It’s the biggest match of my career so far. Just to be able to share the court with a player like that will be really special.”
As Thursday unfolds, British tennis fans are in for a treat with some of the country’s top talents showcasing their skills on the iconic grass courts of Wimbledon.
What’s coming up on Tennis
- Hamburg Open (ATP 500) 15-21 July
- Newport Hall of Fame Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
- Swiss Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
- Bastad Open (ATP 250) 15-21 July
- Palermo Ladies Open (WTA 250) 15-21 July
- Hungarian Grand Prix (WTA 250) 15-21 July
- Prague Open (WTA 250) 21-26 July
Credit: Sky Sports
