GB's Dart and Watson win in Australian Open qualifying

Great Britain's Harriet Dart and Heather Watson some made it done to the 2nd circular of qualifying for the Australian Open, but Dan Evans is out.

Third effect Dart, who has precocious slipped retired of the world's apical 100, defeated Australian wildcard Lizette Cabrera 6-2 7-6 (7-5) successful Melbourne.

Watson claimed a hard-fought 7-5 6-7 (14-16) 6-2 triumph against Lola Radivojevic of Serbia.

There was disappointment, however, for British men's fig 5 Evans, who mislaid 6-4 3-6 6-3 to Japan's James Trotter.

Billy Harris, who has ne'er reached the main gully astatine the Australian Open, faces Yuta Shimizu of Japan successful the archetypal circular of qualifying aboriginal connected Monday.

Dart is up against different Australian successful Taylah Preston successful the adjacent circular connected Tuesday, portion Watson volition play American seasoned Varvara Lepchenko.

Britain's Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu, Sonay Kartal, Jodie Burrage, Jack Draper, Cameron Norrie and Jacob Fearnley each person nonstop introduction into the main gully astatine the archetypal large of 2025.

Former satellite fig 1 Naomi Osaka has said she volition person a scan connected the wounded that forced her to discontinue from the Auckland Classic final, but remains optimistic astir playing astatine the Australian Open.

The 27-year-old was playing successful her archetypal WTA last successful 3 years aft taking a 15-month interruption and giving commencement to her archetypal kid midway done 2023.

However, she was forced to discontinue with an abdominal wounded aft winning the archetypal acceptable 6-4 against Denmark's Clara Tauson connected Sunday.

A two-time champion astatine the Australian Open, Osaka said: "I'm having an MRI contiguous to assess.

"I don't consciousness that it's excessively superior and I inactive consciousness precise optimistic astir AO."

The Australian Open main gully begins connected Sunday.