Six Aussies get AO wild cards

Six Australian players have received a wild card for the 2021 Australian Open, which starts on February 8.

Chris O’Connell and Marc Polmans are the two men and Daria Gavrilova, Astra Sharma, Maddison Inglis and Lizette Cabrera the four women to be given the status.

Gavrilova, who achieved No. 20 in the rankings, has not missed an Open since debuting in 2013. A foot injury has seen her drop down the rankings to 788.

Sharma (129) made the second round at Roland Garros in September.

Chris O’Connell at the 2020 Australian Open. Photo: Andy Cheung/ArcK Images/arckimages.com/UK Tennis Magazine/International Sports Fotos

Tennis Australia will award four more wild cards with Sam Stosur, Priscilla Hon, Arina Rodionova and Destanee Aiava candidates.

In the mens event five more wild cards are set to be awarded with world No. 113 Alexei Popyrin favourite to earn a spot in the main draw.

Bernard Tomic is another possible inclusion along with Andy Murray.

Peter Rowe

Recent Posts

Swiatek secures revenge win in Spain

Iga Swiatek took her revenge on Saturday to win the Madrid Masters over Aryna Sabenka a…

4 hours ago

Doctor’s orders: Heartbroken Sinner forced to miss Rome

Jannik Sinner's golden season was tarnished on Saturday, with the world No. 2 forced to…

5 hours ago

Lehecka Czechs out to send FAA to Madrid finals

Felix Auger-Aliassime received another stroke of luck on Friday as he advanced to the Madrid…

1 day ago

Rublev runs down Fritz for Madrid finals place

Andrey Rublev pounded 20 winners as he eliminated Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3  in Madrid to move…

1 day ago

Alcaraz agony: Spaniard withdraws from Rome

The injury-marred season of Carlos Alcaraz jumped from bad to worse on Friday as the…

2 days ago

Ljubicic: Nadal could mimic Federer’s retirement plan

Rafael Nadal could well duplicate the 2022 retirement scenario of Roger Federer, announcing the end…

2 days ago