Apia International Sydney Tennis - Australian Open Series

Aussie No.1 heading to Sydney

Thursday 18 December 2008 3 Comments »

Australia’s No.1 female player, Samantha Stosur, has secured a place in the main draw for January’s Medibank International Sydney.

VIDEO: Sam Stosur interview

Tournament organisers announced today that the world’s number 52 has been allocated a wildcard for the January 11 to 17 event at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre.

Stosur, a singles finalist at the Medibank International Sydney in 2005, joins the star-studded line up of players already committed to the event, including world number two, Serena Williams and Russia’s gold and silver Olympic medallists Elena Dementieva and Dinara Safina.

The men’s field boasts two of the world’s top ten players, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon, as well as Argentine David Nalbandian and Aussie favourite Lleyton Hewitt.

Speaking from her current training base at Sydney OIympic Park Tennis Centre, Stosur was happy to accept the offer of a Medibank International Sydney wildcard from Tournament Director Craig Watson.

“I am thrilled to be offered a wildcard in Sydney,” she said. “It is a fantastic event and I have some great memories of my run to the final here in 2005.

“The women’s field looks incredible and the standard is always high, so it will be a great test for me before the Australian Open.

“I will be aiming to give the Sydney crowds some great tennis throughout the week and hope they will be out in force to support all the Aussies in the draw.”

Watson is delighted that the Medibank International Sydney will have both the leading Australian players, Stosur and Hewitt, playing in the 2009 event.

“Sam is a welcome addition to our field, and she is thoroughly deserving of our first female wildcard,” he said.

“She has had a tough run with injuries and illness over the past couple of years, but has really fought her way back towards the top of women’s tennis. We are looking forward to having her back in the mix here in Sydney.”

Queenslander Stosur reached a career high singles ranking of 27 in 2007 and finished 2008 ranked 52.

Stosur has a total of 22 Doubles titles, including 3 grand slam doubles titles and has been ranked world number one in doubles.

More Medibank International Sydney wildcards will be announced over the coming weeks.

Tickets are available through Ticketek by phoning 1300 888 104 or visiting www.ticketek.com.au.

Tags: Sam Stosur

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