Oliver Crawford’s first match below the British flag delivered a notable profession landmark: his first ever win at a Grand Slam event.
The 24-year-old, who was born in South Carolina to 2 dad and mom from Birmingham, switched his nationality from the US final week.
In his first match for Britain, Crawford beat Ilya Ivashka in three units to succeed in the second spherical of Australian Open qualifying.
“I’d say I really feel extra British than American at instances,” Crawford advised BBC Sport after his 6-3 3-6 6-1 win on court docket seven at Melbourne Park.
“Clearly, I’ve grown up within the States however once you consider my heritage and what my household is all about, there’s not anybody from the States.
“I’ve an actual ardour for being with the Nice Britain flag. At the moment listening to my identify, after which enjoying for Nice Britain, it gave me chills to be sincere.”
He’ll get the possibility to really feel like that once more when he faces Italian world quantity 195 Francesco Passaro on Thursday within the second of three qualifying rounds as he seeks to succeed in the primary draw of the opening Grand Slam of the 12 months, which begins on Sunday.
Crawford’s dad and mom spent the primary 30-odd years of their lives in Birmingham, earlier than relocating to Germany the place Oliver’s father Julian labored at a chemical firm.
A job in a brand new workplace in South Carolina quickly got here up, and together with his spouse pregnant with Oliver, the couple moved to the town of Spartanburg.
Oliver, his youthful sister and fogeys used to make common journeys again to Birmingham for Christmas or the summer time holidays. Many uncles, aunts and cousins nonetheless dwell within the space, together with one surviving grandmother, and he has had loads of alternative to be taught the household historical past.
“My grandfather is buried in Birmingham and each time I’m going again I try to go to and see the whole lot. My uncle is a giant walker and so he [once] took us on a 15-mile stroll throughout Birmingham and noticed their main college, their center college and the whole lot rising up.”
Crawford, who’s ranked 213 on the earth and is now the British quantity 9, says enjoying for Britain has been at the back of his thoughts for years.
However why now?
“It simply appeared to click on at this stage – I feel there is a bunch of causes,” he mentioned.
“The camaraderie between all of the boys is unbelievable. The tradition they’ve constructed is fantastic. Clearly my household is within the UK, I like enjoying in Europe so having a base in London goes to be superb – and to have the chance to coach with the calibre of gamers there, I feel is second to none.”