Davis Cup doubles pairing Chris Guccione (Vic) and Carsten Ball head up the Australian Open 2011 doubles wildcards announced today.
The pair won an ATP title in Newport last year and are most remembered for their Davis Cup Doubles debut win for Australia against Chile in Antofagasta, Chile in 2008, when they defeated Nicolas Massu and Fernando Gonzalez, 6-7 (5) 7-6 (6) 6-3 5-7 7-5, in a four-hour marathon.
Matthew Ebden (WA) and Peter Luczac (Vic) also join forces, coming off a first round win at the Brisbane International earlier this year.
Young gun’s Ben Mitchell (Qld) and James Duckworth (NSW) have also been granted the opportunity to showcase their talent in the men’s doubles, alongside John Millman (Qld) and Marinko Matosevic (Vic) and Sam Groth (Vic) stepping up with Greg Jones (NSW).
In the women’s doubles, crowd favourite Jelena Dokic will play alongside fellow Victorian Sally Peers, who last year partnered Great Britain starlet Laura Robson, reaching the quarter finals in a surprise feat.
Other women’s doubles pairs announced today were Sophie Letcher (Qld) and Viktorija Rajicic (Vic), Alicia Molik (Vic) and Sophie Ferguson (NSW), Daniella Dominikovic (Vic) playing with Jessica Moore (WA) and Melbourne double act Tammi Patterson and Olivia Rogowska.
The first round of doubles will commence on day one of the Australian Open.
Australian Open 2011 Doubles Wildcards
Chris Guccione/ Carsten Ball
John Millman/ Marinko Matosevic
Matthew Ebden/ Peter Luczak
Sam Groth/ Greg Jones
Ben Mitchell/ James Duckworth
Jelena Dokic/ Sally Peers
Sophie Ferguson/ Alicia Molik
Tammi Patterson/ Olivia Rogowska
Daniella Dominikovic/ Jessica Moore
Sophie Letcher/ Viktorija Rajicic
Topics: Carsten Ball, Chris Guccione