Anyone hoping to emulate US Open champion Emma Raducanu by qualifying for the next tennis Grand Slam will probably have to cancel their Christmas. It is also expected that any festivities will not be taking place at home for main draw players at the Australian Open, with charter flights to Melbourne leaving in the midst of the holiday period. Plans are advanced for the qualifying tournament to take place in the Middle East, with the most likely date for the final qualifying round said to be Christmas Eve. Australian Open officials confirmed that this is the outline of their Covid-induced plans for the 2022 event, though exact dates of qualifying have yet to be finalised. Murray sealed his highest-ranked win of the season on Tuesday night, beating world No 26 Ugo Humbert 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the Moselle Open in Metz.

Source: Daily Mail September 21, 2021 21:33 UTC