The organizers of the Australian Open have awarded main draw singles wildcard entries to six Australian players, ensuring that they will not need to participate in the qualifying event.
Christopher O'Connell and Marc Polmans have been awarded wildcards into the men’s draw, along with Daria Gavrilova, Astra Sharma, Maddison Inglis and Lizette Cabrera in the women’s draw.
“While 2020 has been an incredibly challenging year, we’re proud of the strength and resilience this group of players has shown during this difficult time,” Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said on Wednesday.
“Chris, Marc, Dasha, Astra, Maddy and Lizette have all inspired us with their efforts both on and off the court, here at home and in unprecedented conditions overseas. We are excited to give them the opportunity to compete at Australian Open 2021.
“The Grand Slams are the pinnacle of our sport and the chance to play at home is an experience we know these deserving players will cherish,” Tiley added.
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The players seemed appreciative of the opportunity, as ATP World No.120 O'Connell could barely contain his excitement.
“I was super pumped to get the call. I was lucky enough to receive a wildcard last year and it was an amazing experience,” O’Connell said. "I’m extremely excited to play in another Australian Open and compete against some of the best players in the world.”
Former WTA World No.20 Gavrilova missed the 2020 event due to injury and was also eager to participate in next year's tournament.
“I’m really excited to play in the AO next year. I’ve been training really hard to prepare and I’m just super excited to get the opportunity to compete, especially in front of a crowd, we haven’t had that for a while,” Gavrilova said.
“I was thinking the other day that Victorians have had such a rough year with the pandemic, so I’m hoping that the AO is a good chance for people to come out and watch, and be excited that tennis is back. I’m going to make sure I bring double the energy, so I hope the crowd will too.”
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
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