Apia International Sydney Tennis - Australian Open Series

World’s best headed to Sydney

Thursday 15 October 2009 4 Comments »

World No. 1 Serena Williams is returning to Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre in January to headline Medibank International Sydney 2010.

Joining her in the star-studded field will be Australian No.1 Samantha Stosur, defending champion, Olympic gold-medallist and world No. 5 Elena Dementieva, and world No. 8 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus.

Williams, the current Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, said she was thrilled to be returning to Sydney for the January 10 to 16 event.

“Sydney is a good place to kick off the year; a great warm up for the Australian Open,” Williams said, adding that preparing in Sydney earlier this year was crucial to her success at the Australian Open.

“It was good getting through those tough matches in the heat [against Stosur and Wozniacki] in Sydney and at the end of the day it really helped me prepare for Melbourne.”

Williams returned to the Medibank International Sydney in 2009 after a five-year absence and reached the semifinals of the event before falling to eventual champion Dementieva.

Along the way Williams saved four match points in a blockbuster first-round encounter with Stosur before saving another three match points against Wozniacki in the quarterfinals.

Tournament Director Craig Watson reiterated that the American superstar’s return to the event is testament to the great preparation it provides players leading into the Australian Open.

“We are delighted to welcome Serena back to the harbour city for Medibank International Sydney 2010,” Watson said.

“We know she valued her time in Sydney this year immensely, enjoyed her diamonds experience and got in some crucial court time.”

Stosur too, will be looking to the Medibank International Sydney in January after her career-best year on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in 2009.

The 25-year-old Queenslander played the match of the tournament against Williams earlier this year and is looking forward to returning to Ken Rosewall Arena.

“It’s always nice to play in Sydney. I’ve played some really great matches there, particularly last year, and I really enjoy being there. It feels like I am playing at home,” Stosur said.

The current world No.15 says she will spend most of December training at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre, preparing for the Australian summer of tennis.

“I will do a lot of my preparation there in Sydney so I think I will really have a home-court advantage come January. It is a great court there and the crowd always gets behind you, so I am looking forward to playing my best,” she said.

Stosur, a finalist at the Medibank International Sydney in 2005, raced up the rankings in 2009, reaching a career high spot of No.13 in September.

In March she reached the quarterfinals in Miami, defeating Dinara Safina and Amelie Mauresmo, before reaching her first Grand Slam semi-final at Roland Garros in June.

Tournament Director Craig Watson said he is excited that the Australian No.1 will be playing in Sydney in January.

“Sam has always been a popular visitor to the Medibank International Sydney and is a great ambassador for the sport,” Watson added.

“In the past year she has shown she has the game to match it with the best players in the world and I would consider her a genuine chance to take out her first career title in Sydney early next year.”

Additional players for the women’s field will be announced in the lead-up to the event.

Tickets to the Medibank International Sydney 2010 are on sale now through Ticketek and can be purchased online at www.ticketek.com.au or 1300 888 104.

The Medibank International Sydney will be held at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre from Sunday 10 January to Saturday 16 January 2010.

Tags: Sam Stosur, Serena Williams

You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.