Laura Robson hails 'phenomenal Australian Open for Brits' after Alfie Hewett double and Andy Murray heroics

Published 28/01/2023 at 10:00 GMT

It has been another very memorable Grand Slam for British tennis, particularly with Alfie Hewett having followed up his doubles glory with a stunning wheelchair singles triumph as he defeated third seed Tokito Oda in straight sets in the final on Saturday at the Australian Open. Eurosport's Laura Robson has given her views on the performances of the Brits at Melbourne Park.

'A phenomenal Australian Open for Brits' - Robson on 'unbelievable results'

Eurosport expert Laura Robson has paid tribute to the British players after what was a "phenomenal Australian Open" with Alfie Hewett clinching a double triumph in the wheelchair singles and doubles.

Hewett followed up his doubles glory with a stunning singles triumph as he defeated third seed Tokito Oda in straight sets, 6-3 6-1, in the final on Saturday in just 69 minutes at Melbourne Park.

The 25-year-old from Norwich is now a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion having also claimed three titles at the French Open and the US Open. This latest Grand Slam triumph followed Hewett and Gordon Reid taking the doubles title on Friday with a 6-1 6-2 victory over Dutch duo Maikel Scheffers and Ruben Spaargaren.

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Incredibly, it was their 16th Grand Slam title together in doubles and their fourth successive crown at the Australian Open. The legendary British pairing clinched 10 consecutive Grand Slam doubles titles between 2019 and 2022 in a period of unbelievable dominance.

Andy Murray also produced a thrilling throwback with two sensational victories - both marathon clashes - as he advanced through to the third round with the 35-year-old again defying his doubters after his hip surgeries and fitness struggles.

While Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans would have liked to have progressed further than the third round, both still showed that they are very competitive at the top end of the men's game, with the latter being defeated by fifth seed Andrey Rublev in a very tough draw.

For Robson, it was a superb showing from numerous Brits at Melbourne Park.

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“It was a phenomenal Australian Open for the Brits," Eurosport reporter Robson concluded. "Alfie [Hewett] and Gordon [Reid] in the doubles, Alfie in the singles.

"Then obviously Andy [Murray], Cam Norrie, Dan Evans - I mean, the guys are just getting unbelievable results at the moment, and they push each other along.

"I love that everyone supports each other, everyone keeps up with each other’s results and everyone wants to be British No. 1. So yeah, a huge tournament for them, and hopefully the women will be able to back it up sooner.”

Focusing specifically on Britain's wheelchair players, Robson hailed another set of astonishing performances and more Grand Slam titles to add to the country's tally.

"The wheelchair players in Great Britain are just phenomenal," she said. "You can tell the difference between them being funded well - the Dutch players as well - and what they are able to achieve with just a little bit of support and just how much of a difference that makes.

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"They are a really tight unit, most of them train at the National Tennis Centre and they get great support, great facilities, and it makes just such a big difference. They absolutely deserve it - they are every bit as talented as the players on the main tour.

"Alfie Hewett winning singles and doubles at the Australian Open this year - he is an absolute legend, so committed to the game and he is so fun to be around.

"I’ve trained with him across the years at the National Tennis Centre back in London and he is ultra-committed. So it is just so good to see him come through with such a big title as he was runner-up the last couple of years here.

"You could see how much it meant to him. He was crying happy tears on the court, which is exactly what you want to see. I think Wimbledon will be the next one because he made the final there last year, and that definitely is his next big goal.

"But just such an amazing tournament for him, and so very well deserved.”