Australian open 2013

[sameerph]

Starting this thread early as this year Australian open will be holding an Asia-Pacific Wild card play off in Nanjing, China, from 15 to 21 October 2012.

In the past few years, the wild cards have been given geneally to the highest ranked players who could not make the main draw. ( Somdev got it a couple of years back.)

There will be one wild card on offer each in mens & womens singles & mens & womens doubles.

These are the details from Australian open site -

ELIGIBILITY - The AWP is open to all Nationals from the Asia Pacific region, excluding Australian’s, with a World Ranking of 105 or higher for Men
and 109 or higher for Women (based on AO cut off for Men of 104 and Women of 108) at the time of the entry closing. There is no
applicable cut-off for doubles so all Asia-Pacific players are eligible.

Dates of play - Qualifying Singles: Monday 15 to Wednesday 17 October 2012
Qualifying Doubles: Tuesday 16 October 2012
Main Draw Singles: Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 October 2012
Main Draw Doubles: Wednesday 17 to Sunday 21 October 2012

VENUE - Tennis Academy of China (in Nanjing Sport Institute)

Prize money - men’s and women’s singles : W $2,000, F $1,500, Semi $1,000, Qtr $500
men’s and women’s doubles is: W $500 per pair, F $250

Singles Main Draw (16 elimination):
Top 4 ranked athletes gain direct MD acceptance*
8 Wildcards#
2 Qualifiers
Top 2 seeds receive a Bye in 1st Round

Singles Qualifying Draw (32 elimination):
Next 16 ranked athletes gain direct QS acceptance*
8 Wildcards
Top 2 seeds start at QF
Seeds 3 & 4 start at R16
Remaining 20 athletes commence at R32

Doubles Main Draw (16 elimination):
Top 4 ranked teams gain direct MD acceptance*
6 Wildcards
4 Qualifiers
Top 2 seeds receive a Bye in 1st Round
Doubles Qualifying Draw (16 elimination):
Next 12 ranked teams gain direct QS acceptance*
4 Wildcards

*Based on Monday 1 October 2012 ATP / WTA rankings release

Main Draw Wildcards have been issued to the respective National Associations (NA) and will be issued at their discretion
 Singles Wildcards – 2 x China, 2 x India, 2 x Japan, 1 x Chinese-Taipei & 1 x Thailand;
Doubles Wildcards - 3 x China, 1 x India, 1 x Japan, & 1 x Thailand

So, mostly India will field Yuki/ Vishnu in singles & Divij with either Vishnu/ Divij in doubles. Could be a good chance for either of them to make the main draw of Australian open even though it is likely to be a tough field.

Not sure who will play in womens as India has 2 singles & 1 doubles wild cards for that as well.

[jayakris]

Several years back the Asian Tennis Federation used to do an Asian tennis championship for this purposes. It was done in Uzbekistan for 2 or 3 years. The wildcard format seems a little different now.

Jay

[PKBasu]

Yes, Jay, that is ofcourse how Sania got into the AO draw in 2005; she had finished runner-up to Li Na in the ATF play-off, and Li Na later got into the top-100 (and so didn't need the wildcard) -- and the wildcard went to Sania instead.

The odd thing about this championship is that only 4 slots in the draw are actually open to the highest-ranked Asians, while all the other slots in the draw will be assigned by the national federations. The AO organizers obviously pay great heed to the other national tennis federations. Just highlights the implicit hold that AITA has over the players...

[jaydeep]

Good opportunity for our players ... Including doubles pair.

[prassana]

So when will they announce the wcs?

[sameerph]

Entry list will close on October 1 & national associations have to apply for wild cards by 4th October. So, we will know by 4th October as to who would be participating from India.

[prasen9]

So India gets 2 main wildcard men's singles spots? That is quite a bounty!

[sameerph]

So India gets 2 main wildcard men's singles spots? That is quite a bounty!

Prasen ,these are only wild cards for the wild card play off tournament . Not for the main draw at AO if you are thinking that way.

[prasen9]

Sameer,

Thanks. Makes sense now. I could not believe my eyes.

--p.

[jic]

Hmmmmm..... So gotta be styled doubly wild to get dialed into the main pile at the AO!

[prashanthm]

Yuki, Vishnu & Balaji are in the Qualifying Acceptance list....
So, it will be interesting to see who will get the Indian WCs into the main draw and which other Indian players will enter on-site or get a qualifying WC.......

No Indian in the Women's Entry list.....

[prasen9]

jic - sheer poetry

[sameerph]

As per report in Hindu, AITA has alloted 2 singles wild cards for the Asia Pacific wild play off to Vishnu & Yuki . No mention of doubles wild card. Prerna Bhambri is the only Indian who has shown intrest among women . So, it looks like India may surrender second wild card for women. I hope AITA persuades Sania to take this opportunity & try to qualify for singles main draw thru this slightly easier route than playing qualifying.

[bujilover]

Why dont the likes of Rishika/Kyra/Rutuja attempt for this

[prassana]

I was thinking the same..this is the right time and good chance for Sania to try her luck one last time in Singles..
There's not much use playing doubles as its year end and she is not going to play YEC..so after Beijing she should play here..
she can easily qualify if she's fit..this is a great chance to get into a Grandslam again..After which there is the Taipei and Indian challenger and ofcourse one in Dubai..it would be a great chance to improve her ranking,test her singles ability and fitness and just try one more time..who knows if all goes good,she can again start playing singles from Jan..hope AITA persuades Sania to play somehow..