Apia International Sydney Tennis - Australian Open Series

Grand Slam champions KimClijsters and Juan Martin Del Potro, along with defending champion Marcos

Baghdatis and Australia’s No.1 player, Samantha Stosur, will all headline January’s Medibank International

Sydney.

Tournament Director CraigWatson today announced the star quartet as the first confirmed players for the

historic and internationally-renowned event, set to take place from January 9 to 15 2011 at Sydney Olympic Park

Tennis Centre.

“The Medibank International Sydney continues to excite and entertain the Sydney sporting public each January

and plans are well underway for an outstanding event at the start of the year,” Watson said today.

“We are delighted to be welcoming back perennial favourite and two-time champion Kim Clijsters to the

Medibank International Sydney.

“Joining her will be Australia’s own Samantha Stosur, 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro and of

course the very entertaining and charismatic Marcos Baghdatis.

“To have two Grand Slam champions and two Grand Slam finalists already confirmed as starters for January is

fantastic news and proves what a highly regarded event the Medibank International Sydney is in world tennis.”

Watson also announced the continuation of the popular $9.90 ground pass, the Live Site concert series and Kids’

Day for Medibank International Sydney 2011.

“We would like families from all over Sydney and NSWto be able to experience world-class tennis in their own

backyard. Our $9.90 ground pass, the best value sporting ticket in Sydney, will be available again in 2011,”

Watson continued.

“In addition we have kept themajority of ticket prices across the board at 2010 levels and introduced a variety of

new series packages to give asmany people as possible the opportunity to experience what a truly unique

event theMedibank International Sydney is.”

Kids’ Day will be held on Monday 10 January, where all children under the age of 16 will be given free access to

the grounds and on-site activities.

Tickets to the Medibank International Sydney 2011 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 9 to

Saturday 15 January 2011.

Crowd favourites and top ten stars KimClijsters and Samantha Stosur have both confirmed they will return to

Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre in January for Medibank International Sydney 2011.

Clijsters, the current world No. 5 and the newly crowned US Open champion, is a two-time winner of the

Medibank International Sydney and said she was excited to be returning to the harbour city for the first time in

four years.

“I have a lot of beautiful memories of Sydney. I’ve done well there before and won the event and played some

really good tennis,” Clijsters said.

Clijsters won the Medibank International Sydney in 2003 and 2007. Her 2007 stunning victory over Jelena

Jankovic was the last title the popular Belgian won before announcing her retirement inMay of that year.

“To me one of the most important matches that I’ve played was the last time I was there, in the final against

Jankovic a few years ago,” Clijsters continued.

“It was one of the mostmemorable matches for me that I have ever played in my career. The trophy has pride of

place in my house.

“The crowd was really into the match and the atmosphere was unbelievable, almost like a soccer game.

“I really enjoy Sydney. It is such a beautiful city and the crowds have always been so supportive of me. I amreally

looking forward to playing there again.”

Tournament Director CraigWatson said he was thrilled with the news that Clijsters would be returning to

Sydney in January.

“Kim has always been an immensely popular figure in Sydney and the buzz and excitement she has brought to

women’s tennis since she returned to the Tour last year has been fantastic,” Watson said.

“I know that the crowds in Ken Rosewall Arena will be behind her one hundred percent.

“Kim could win her third title in Sydney early next year and what great preparation that would be for the

Australian Open.”

On retiring fromthe sport in 2007, Clijsters got married and gave birth to daughter Jada. While her family

remains her number one priority, her triumphant return to tennis with the US Open title in September last year

is one of the highlights of her professional career. Clijsters then sensationally defended that Championship in

New York lastmonth.

Defending champion Marcos Baghdatis and 2009 US Open champion JuanMartin Del Potro are the firstmale

players to be confirmed for January’s Medibank International Sydney.

Tournament Director CraigWatson today announced that the enigmatic Cypriot star will be back in Sydney in

the New Year to defend his 2010 title, whilst also welcoming Argentine Del Potro, a former top 5 player, as a

confirmed starter.

Baghdatis, currently the world No. 18, began his impressive 2010 season with a win at the Sydney Olympic Park

Tennis Centre in January and is keen to return to the harbour city to claim back to back titles.

“I am very happy to be returning to the Medibank International Sydney next year to defendmy title,” Baghdatis

said.

“My win there earlier this year was the perfect start to the season and it gave me a lot of confidence for the rest

of the year.

“I have some greatmemories of the crowds in Sydney and so many fans came out and supported me

throughout the week there. I hope they will come back again next year because they created an unbelievable

atmosphere for the semis and the final.”

Watson said Baghdatis returning to theMedibank International Sydney to defend his title was a great

endorsement of the event and the city.

“Marcos was an extremely popular Medibank International Sydney champion in 2010 and he really delighted

and excited the crowds all week long,” Watson commented.

“Not only is he one of the most entertaining players on the Tour but he has been one of the in-form players this

season with wins over Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.”

“If the standard of play from this year’s men’s final is any indication, our crowds will be in for quite a show when

Marcos heads back to Sydney in January.”

Baghdatis’ victory at theMedibank International Sydney was his fourth career title.

The 2006 Australian Open finalist also defeated Federer at Indian Wells in March and Nadal in Cincinnati in

August this year and saw his ranking back inside the world’s top 20 for the first time since May 2008.

Former world No. 4, Del Potro is hoping the Medibank International Sydney will be the ideal start to the year for

him after an injury-marred 2010 season.