The Australian Open women’s wild cards were also announced today. The men’s wild cards were released and saw Lleyton Hewitt receive one in his final major. Unlike the wild cards on the men’s side which were given out to veterans mostly, the Australians who earned or were given the wild cards were mostly up and coming players. Four of the five Australians to receive or earn wild cards were 21 or under.
Young Blood Headed To Melbourne Park
Of the five Australians who are in the main draw due to wild cards, is over 21, and that is Tammi Patterson at 26 years old. 17-year-old Maddison Inglis is one of three 17 year olds in the main draw. She earned her wild card after winning the Australian Open Wild Card Playoff over Arina Rodionova. Priscilla Hon is the second of three 17 year olds after winning the 18 and Under National Championship. Kimberly Birrell is the last of the 17 year olds and was given her wild card by Tennis Australia.
Storm Sanders was also a wild card recipient from Tennis Australia. Sanders is the second oldest of the Australian wild card recipients at 21 years old.
Keeping It Young
Three more wild cards outside of Australia were given as well. Han Xinyun won the Asia/Pacific Wild Card Challenge which earned her a spot in the main draw. She’s the second oldest wild card recipient at 25 years old. Oceane Dodin was given her wild card as a choice from the Federation of French Tennis. She was also given a wild card last year and used it to her advantage, making the second round.
American rising star Samantha Crawford won the Australian Open Wild Card Challenge from the USTA. Crawford started off her 2015 in fine fashion by getting to the semifinals of the Brisbane International, losing to Victoria Azarenka. The American defeated three consecutive fellow wild card recipients from the second round of qualifying to her first main draw match (Birell, Dodin, and Hon). Before the semifinals, the 20-year-old defeated seventh-seeded Belinda Bencic and Andrea Petkovic.