• Home
  • Players
  • Competition
  • Coaches
  • Clubs
  • Parents
  • Watch
  • News
  • Shop
  • In Your Area
 

Aussie Open qualies begin on Wednesday

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Qualifying for next week’s Australian Open in Melbourne gets under way on Wednesday with seven top British players vying for places in the main draws.

In the men’s event, Alex Bogdanovic will begin his campaign to join Andy Murray in the main draw against the No.24 seed from Kazakhstan, Mikhail Kukushkin.

The British No.2 will be playing Kukushkin for the first time as he looks to improve on last year’s performance which saw him reach the second round of qualifying.

Josh Goodall will face Slovakian Pavol Cervenak in his first career match at the Australian Open. The 23 year-old is ranked 96 places higher than Cervenak at No.204 in the world.

Like Goodall, James Ward and Alex Slabinsky will both be making their debuts at Melbourne Park, Ward will play Italian Gianluca Naso while Slabinsky will play Russian Alexandre Kudryavtsev.

In the women’s event, which gets under way on Thursday, Elena Baltacha, Katie O’Brien and Georgie Stoop will all be attempting to join Anne Keothavong and Mel South in the main draw.

The three Brits will learn who their first round opposition is when the qualifying draw takes place on Wednesday.

 
 
 
 

Latest Audio

There are no latest audio files.
 
 
 
 

Latest Photos

t.French Open champion Francesca Schiavone wastes no time as she wins 6-2 6-1.jpg u.Gael Monfils looks impressive in his straight sets win.jpg v.The British No.1 will now play Jamaican Dustin Brown in round two.jpg w.Cheered on by his box including his mum and girlfriend Murray wins in straight sets.jpg