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Sydney wildcard for Dellacqua

Sydney wildcard for Dellacqua

Tennis Australia Tuesday 30 December 2008 7 Comments »

World number 53, Australia’s Casey Dellacqua, has secured a place in the main draw for the Medibank International Sydney, which gets underway on Sunday 11 January at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre.

Tournament organisers have awarded Dellacqua a wildcard for the event, alongside fellow Australian Samantha Stosur.

Dellacqua, who had a breakthrough year in 2008 and reached a career-high singles ranking of No.39 in the world, joins a star-studded women’s field that includes world No.2 and US Open champions Serena Williams, French Open finalist Dinara Safina and Olympic gold medallist Elena Dementieva for the January 11 to 17 event.

The men’s field boasts two top 10 players in Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon, as well as Argentine David Nalbandian, defending champion Dmitry Tursunov and four-time Medibank International Sydney champion Lleyton Hewitt.

Speaking from her hometown of Perth, Dellacqua said she was delighted to be offered a wildcard to the Medibank International Sydney.

 ”I need to play the top girls and most of them will be in Sydney, so I really appreciate receiving a wildcard and I am looking forward to playing there,” she said.

“It is a high quality tournament and I will be aiming to perform at my very best that week, in the lead up to the Aussie Open.

Dellacqua added, “I have only had the chance to play there once, so I am really looking forward to Sydney.”

Tournament Director Craig Watson said the inclusion of Dellacqua in the field would boost an expected outstanding week of women’s tennis.

“To have both Casey and Samantha here in January will be fantastic,” said Watson. “The Sydney crowds always like to get out to and support the locals in action, so to have the top two Australian women playing is exciting.

“Casey has had an incredible year and displayed some outstanding tennis at the Grand Slams and on the regular tour.

“We are looking forward to seeing her display the same flair and determination that saw her reach the fourth round of the Australian Open this year.”

More wildcards will be announced over the next two weeks. The draw for the tournament will be decided on Saturday 10 January 2009.

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


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  • http://AustralianOpenseries Dianne Smith

    Hi Casey Hope you have another very successful year in 2009 Good luck in Sydney. Hope to see you in the Australian open in Melbourne next month. Happy New Year.Regards Dianne Smith

  • KopKing

    Now please give Roddick and Murray the men’s wildcards…Please?

  • Andrew

    Eleni Daniilidou should get the last one. Or at least in Hobart since she is defending champion there. She is about to be the #2 Greek player, and then she will be about 15 spots away from being the #3 Greek. She used to be in the top15 of the WTA ranks.

  • Lester Leong

    I suggest that Jelena Dokic should be given a wild card entry to the main draw. She showed that Dokic can hang with the top pros, e.g. playing and almost beating Mauresmo in a thriller tie-breakers in Brisbane.
    Go Dokic go!

  • Francois T

    I agree with you Lester, Jelena definitely deserves the Wild Card, after her efforts in Melbourne in the W/C Playoffs then in Brisbane, yes loosing in 2 sets but they were both tie breakers (the first 11-9) and to Mauresmo, if anyone deserves it more the anyone else it is Jelena! Even over Casey and Sam!

  • Nathan McLean

    I agree that Dokic should be given a wild card for Sydney and if not definately Hobart as her performance against Mauresmo showed she still has what it takes to battle it out with the top girls.
    I also think her being given a spot in the Fed Cup team is well deserved and this she be a benefit for her to get another wild card.

  • An Australian

    To Francois,
    how does somebody whos ranking is 180 deserve a wildcard over somebody whos ranking is 50? And in Stosurs case, she is 50 in the world and was out with injury most of last year.
    And just to put it in perspective, Mauresmo is no longer as good as she used to be. Apart from that Dellaqua beat her at the Open last year.

    Go all in Oz living Aussies!

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