Millman, Barty get Australian Open wildcards

Updated January 02, 2013 10:11:42

Queenslanders John Millman and Ashleigh Barty received New Year boosts in the form of wildcards to play in the main draw at this month's Australian Open.

The 23-year-old Millman, who won through qualifying to play this week's Brisbane International, was rewarded by Tennis Australia for a strong year in which he hauled his world ranking up from number 541 to 199 after playing 25 tournaments.

Barty, 16, also made a big move in 2012, rising from number 669 to 175.

The 2011 junior Wimbledon champion was excited to get the news of her second Australian Open start at the Hopman Cup mixed teams tournament in Perth where she was teamed with Bernard Tomic for Australia.

"Hopefully I can bring out some of the tennis I've been producing here at the Hopman Cup so far," said Barty, who is coached by Jason Stoltenberg and Jim Joyce.

AAP

Tags: australian-open, tennis, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted January 01, 2013 10:51:39

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Ebden, Gajdosova handed Brisbane wildcards

Updated December 12, 2012 13:44:46

Matthew Ebden has been rewarded and Jarmila Gajdosova boosted by wildcard entries into the Brisbane International tennis tournament after starkly contrasting seasons.

South African-born, Perth-based Ebden enjoyed a breakthrough year in which he reached a career-high ranking of 61 in October.

"The year 2012 was good in a few ways. I won some of my first grand slam matches and played in the main draws of all the slams," said Ebden, currently the world number 105.

"I also won some of my first Davis Cup matches and debuted ... and won by far the most tour matches through the whole season that I have ever done."

For Gajdosova, the wildcard into the December 30 to January 6 Brisbane International is a much-needed shot in the arm in an injury-ravaged 2012 in which her ranking has dropped 150 places to 184.

Slovakian-born Gajdosova looked forward to joining a women's field boasting eight of the world's top-10 players.

"It means a lot. I can't thank enough the Brisbane International and Tennis Australia for giving me this opportunity to start my comeback and new year playing main draw at such a great event," Gajdosova said.

"I've been working hard this off season - also had some time off, so I am very excited to come back home and play in front of my home crowd.

"I feel healthy and happy and hope all my hard work on and off the court will show."

Brisbane International director Cameron Pearson said the pair was a logical pick for selectors.

"They want to know that they can play at that level and certainly both Matty and Jaka can," he said.

"They both make themselves available for our national teams - the Fed Cup team and the Davis Cup team - so they were certainly always high on the list as wildcards too."

ABC/AAP

Tags: tennis, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted December 12, 2012 11:12:55

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Hewitt, Barty get French wildcards

Updated May 16, 2012 10:25:59

Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt will make an early return from injury after being awarded a wildcard into next week's French Open.

The 31-year-old Hewitt has recovered faster than expected from foot surgery in February and along with rising star Ashley Barty was granted a spot in the main draw at Roland Garros by Tennis Australia.

"I'm looking forward to playing the French Open especially after missing it last year due to injury," said Hewitt, a two-time quarter-finalist in Paris.

Barty, one of only two 16-year-olds in the women's top 330, will be making her French Open debut.

"I'm thrilled to compete in the main draw of the French Open for the first time and test my game against the world's best. Thank you to Tennis Australia for believing in me enough to give me this opportunity and I will do my best to make everyone proud," Barty said.

Hewitt and Barty will join fifth-seed Samantha Stosur, Jarmila Gajdosova (69), Casey Dellacqua (69), Anastasia Rodionova (106), Bernard Tomic (32) and Matt Ebden (69) in the main draw at Roland Garros.

Tags: tennis, sport, australia, france

First posted May 16, 2012 10:25:59

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Dellacqua, Duckworth handed Open wildcards

Updated December 14, 2011 11:10:30

Casey Dellacqua has been rewarded for some excellent form with a wildcard into next month's Australian Open.

Dellacqua, who reached a career-high ranking of 39 in 2008 before being struck down by serious shoulder and foot injuries, won 30 successive matches and six tournaments recently on the Pro Tour in regional Australia.

She lost her opening match in last week's Open wildcard play-off to rising teenage star Ashleigh Barty.

But Tennis Australia (TA) officials felt she had done enough in recent months to get direct entry into the main draw for the first grand slam event of the year, along with compatriot James Duckworth.

"After missing most of 2010 with a foot injury I have spent this year building on my confidence and match practice," said Dellacqua, who enjoyed her best-ever run at a grand slam at the 2008 Australian Open when she advanced to the last 16.

"I now finally feel like I am playing some good tennis and with six Pro Tour event wins under my belt I have the confidence I needed going into the summer.

"I'm really happy with where I am at.

"I'm hitting the ball well, serving great and doing all the things I should be doing.

"I feel good and I am looking forward to some tough competition in January."

The 26-year-old has also been handed wildcards for the Open lead-up events in Brisbane and Hobart.

"It's nice to know my summer is set and hopefully I will get a few more wins and gain even more confidence coming into the Australian Open," said Dellacqua, who is now ranked 133 in the world.

"My goal is to get back into the top 100 next year and then once I'm back inside there, I will reassess and this will just help me speed up that process."

Duckworth, 19, earned his wildcard three days after being beaten in the final of the play-off mini-tournament at Melbourne Park by Marinko Matosevic.

"It's something I've been working towards for a number of years now, and it's really a dream come true to play the Australian Open with my friends and family there," said Duckworth, who has improved his world ranking by 400 places to No.260.

TA will hand out more Open wildcards in the coming weeks.

AAP

Tags: tennis, sport, australia

First posted December 14, 2011 11:10:30

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