theaussieword.com Guest Tennis Blogger Melinda Samson returns for us with a special look at our Aussie player line up for next weeks 2013 Kia Australian Open. Time to get excited Australia! Here are our great Aussie hopes! #AussieAussieAussie – Remember to use the #kiaAO hashtag via Twitter throughout the Australian Open!There’s been a lot of news coverage on Aussie tennis players Sam Stosur, Lleyton Hewitt, Bernard Tomic, Ash Barty and John Millman already this year. In total there are sixteen Australians, nine men and seven women, in the main draw of the 2013 Australian Open. Here’s a review of their form from last year’s Australian Open and the start of the 2013 tennis season. Plus their first round opponents at the 2013 Australian Open.
World rankings are sourced from the ATP for men and WTA for women, both as at 6 January 2013.
Sam Stosur (world ranking 9)
Stosur, along with all her fans, will be hoping she does better at the Australian Open than last year’s first round exit. In 2012 Stosur made the semi-finals at Roland Garros and the quarter-finals at the US Open plus two WTA finals at Doha and Moscow.
So far in 2013 she lost to Sofia Arvidsson in the first round of the Brisbane International and was defeated by Jie Zheng, a tricky first round opponent, at the APIA International Sydney.
Plays Kai-Chen Chang in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open. Stosur has a relatively favourable draw with the possibility to meet fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska in a quarter-final, second seed Maria Sharapova in a semi-final and first or third seeds Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams in the final.
Marinko Matosevic (world ranking 49)
Matosevic is currently the highest ranked Australian male player. 2013 will be Matosevic’s fourth Australian Open, to date he hasn’t progressed beyond the first round. Kei Nishikori defeated Matosevic in the first round of the Brisbane International. At the APIA International Sydney Matosevic was defeated 6-3, 6-4 by Bernard Tomic in round one. Plays twelfth seed Marin Cilic in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open.
Bernard Tomic (world ranking 52)
Current Australian number two Tomic will be competing in his fifth Australian Open in 2013. Based on his form so far this year, a lot of people are expecting him to do well. Tomic showed great form at the 2012 Australian Open, beating Verdasco in an epic first round five set match and following up the win by beating Sam Querry and Alexandr Dolgopolov before being defeated by Roger Federer in the fourth round.Tomic won all three singles matches in the 2013 Hopman Cup, including a straight sets victory over Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4. Tomic plays Kevin Anderson in the final of the APIA International Sydney, his first ATP event final. He beat current Australian number one Marinko Matosevic, Florian Mayer, Jarko Nieminen and Andreas Seppi to reach the final.
Plays Leonardo Mayer in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open. Tomic faces a potentially tough draw with the possibility of Roger Federer in the third round, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga in a quarter-final, Andy Murray in a semi-final and Novak Djokovic in the final.
Lleyton Hewitt (world ranking 83)
2013 will be Hewitt’s seventeenth consecutive Australian Open. Hewitt made it through to the fourth round of the 2012 Australian Open, eventually losing to Djokovic. Hewitt lost to Denis Istomin in the second round of the 2013 Brisbane International. He will play Juan Martin Del Potro in the final of the AAMI Classic at Kooyong, where he defeated Milos Raonic and Tomas Berdych to make the final.
Plays eighth seed Janko Tipsarevic in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open. If Hewitt gets through the first round he wouldn’t play a top 4 seed until David Ferrer in a quarter-final.
Casey Dellacqua (world ranking 101)
Dellacqua is well loved since her run to the fourth round of the 2008 Australian Open, beating Patty Schnyder and Amelie Mauresmo along the way. In 2012 she lost in the second round to eventual champion Victoria Azarenka.
2013 will be Dellacqua’s tenth appearance at the Australian Open. Dellacqua had to pull out of the 2013 Hopman Cup due to injury. Plays Madison Keys in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open.
Matt Edben (world ranking 105)
Ebden played all four grand slam events in 2012, making the second round at both the Australian and US Opens. During the Australian Open he won two sets off Kei Nishikori before eventually losing the second round match in five sets. Ebden lost to David Goffin in the first round of the 2013 Brisbane International. Marcel Granollers defeated Ebden 5-7, 7-5, 6-1 in the first round of the APIA International Sydney.
Plays Mikhail Youzhny in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open.
Wildcard entries
Ashleigh Barty (world ranking 175)
Barty debuted in grand slam events at the 2012 Australian Open going out in the first round. She also experienced first round losses at last year’s French Open and Wimbledon after receiving wild card entry. Barty has been awarded a wildcard for the 2013 Australian Open.
Barty replaced the injured Casey Dellacqua in Australia’s 2013 Hopman Cup team. In the Hopman Cup singles matches Barty was one set down when her opponent Andrea Petkovic withdrew; lost to Anna Ivanovic 6-2, 6-3 and defeated Francesca Schiavone 6-0, 6-3.
In the first round of the Moorilla Hobart International Barty was defeated by Mona Barthel 2-6, 6-0, 6-1. Plays APIA International finalist Dominika Cibulkova in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open.
Olivia Rogowska (world ranking 113)
In 2012 Rogowska made it to the second round of the Australian Open after three years of going out at the first round. Monica Puig beat Rogowska in the first round of the 2013 Brisbane International. Maria Kirilenko defeated Rogowka in the first round of the APIA International Sydney.
Plays a qualifier in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open.
Sacha Jones (world ranking 173)
Jones is making her grand slam debut at the 2013 Australian Open. Nina Bratchikova beat Jones in the second qualifying round for the 2013 Moorilla Hobart International. Plays Kristyna Pliskova in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open.
Jamila Gajdosova (world ranking 183)
2013 will be Gajdosova’s eighth appearance at the Australian Open where she is yet to make it past the first round. In 2010 Gajdosova made the fourth round at both the French Open and Wimbledon.
After beating Roberta Vinci in the first round of the 2013 Brisbane International Gajdosova lost to Lesia Tsurenko in her next match. Gajdosova defeated Romina Oprandi in the first round of the Moorilla Hobart International. This was followed by victory over Olga Govortsova. She was defeated 6-3, 6-2 by eventual finalist Elena Vesnina in the quarterfinals.
Plays Yanina Wickmayer in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open.
John Millman (world ranking 199)Millman will debut in grand slam events at 2013 Australian Open. After beating Tatsuma Ito in the first round of the Brisbane International Millman succumbed to Andy Murray in three sets in the second round. Millman beat Tommy Robredo in the first round of the APIA International Sydney 6-3, 6-4 before losing to Andreas Seppi 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
Plays Tatsuma Ito in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open.
James Duckworth (world ranking 209)
In 2012 Duckworth made the second round of Australian Open, his only men’s singles grand slam event to date, going out to Tisparevic in four sets 3-6, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4. Duckworth lost in the second qualifying round of the 2013 Brisbane International to Igor Kunitsyn. In the first round of the APIA International Sydney Denis Istomin defeated Duckworth 6-7, 6-4, 7-6.
Plays Ben Mitchell in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open.
John-Patrick Smith (world ranking 244)
The 2013 Australian Open will be Smith’s first singles grand slam event. Denis Kudla defeated Smith in the first qualifying round at the Brisbane International. Smith was defeated by Joao Sousa in the final round of qualifying to the main draw of the APIA International Sydney.
Plays Joao Sousa in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open.
Ben Mitchell (world ranking 327)
Mitchell earnt a wild card entry to the main draw with victory in the Australian Open December Showdown beating Matt Reid in four sets.
2013 will be Mitchell’s third Australian Open. Best singles performance is the first round. Mitchell lost in the first round of the 2013 Brisbane International to Marcos Baghdatis. Alex Bolt defeated Mitchell in the first qualifying round of APIA Sydney International.
Plays James Duckworth in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open.
Bojana Bobusic (world ranking 331)
Bobusic won the women’s Australian Open December showdown beating Monique Adamczak 6-1, 6-3.
2012 was Bobusic’s debut at the Australian Open going out in the first round. Bobusic lost to Alize Cornet in the first round of the 2013 Brisbane International after making it through qualifying. Plays Radwanska in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open.
Luke Saville (world ranking 349)
Saville’s only grand slam appearance to date is the 2012 Australian Open, where he was defeated in the first round. John Millman defeated Saville in the first qualifying round of the 2013 Brisbane International. Tatsuma Ito beat Saville in the first qualifying round of the APIA International Sydney.
Plays Go Soeda in the first round of the 2013 Australian Open.
Possible Qualifier An eighth Australian woman, Arina Rodionova, may also make the draw if she wins her final qualifying match against Maria Joao K.
Thanks to Melinda Samson for her contribution to theaussieword.com – For more grand slam tennis tips and articles, visit www.grandslamgal.com or follow Mel on Twitter @grandslamgal – you may also wish to sign up for ‘Aussie Summer of Tennis Daily Updates’