Aussies around the globe – Kerr, Hanley and Hewitt

Written by: Resendiz on 26th September 2011

Aussies around the globe – Kerr, Hanley and Hewitt

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt in action against Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka during their Davis Cup world group play-off in Sydney, 18 September 2011. Play was suspended shortly before 6pm due to low light. EPA/DEAN LEWINS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT, EDITORIAL USE ONLY |

Last week’s ATP Tour tournaments were played in Bucharest and Metz. There were no Aussies playing in the singles event at the BRD Nastase Tiriac Trophy in Bucharest, Romania but our old friend Jordan Kerr from South Australia entered into the doubles event with American Travis Parrott.

Kerr and Parrott cruised into the second round beating Alessandro Motti of Italy and Purav Raja of India 6-2 6-1. The Australian/American team caused an upset when they took out the top seeded team of hometown favourite Horia Tecau and Robert Lindstedt of Sweden in the quarterfinal. Unfortunately, the duo were stopped in the semi-final by the number three seeds Daniele Bracciali and Potito Starace from Italy, who went on to win the event.

31-year-old Kerr’s career highest ranking was No. 23. He is currently ranked No. 122. Kerr’s last title came in 2009 when he won the Newport tournament with Andy Ram of Israel. The South Australian has amassed nine career doubles titles.

Victorian born Paul Hanley went to Metz for the Moselle Open. Paul teamed up with the very tall Belgian Dick Norman. The number three seeds failed to get past the first round. Hanley/Norman suffered a surprise loss to French wildcards Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Renavand in two tiebreak sets.

Marinko Matosevic was seeded number four in the qualifying event at the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur. Matosevic had a bye in the first round and he won his second round comfortably. He is now in the last round of qualifying where is will take on the number seven seed American Rajeev Ram.

Carsten Ball travelled to Turkey for the Turk Telekom Izmir Cup in Izmir. The Aussie won his first round in the Challenger easily against local player Haluk Akkoyun 6-3 6-2. Ball lost in the following round to the second seed Belgian Steve Darcis 3-6 6-7 (5).

The American resident was top seeded in the doubles event in Izmir with Denmark’s Frederik Nielsen. The seeding didn’t help Ball and his partner who lost in the first round against Lithuanian duo Richard Berankis and Laurynas Grigelis.

The Challenger Trophy in Trnava, Slovakia was visited by two Australians Colin Ebelthite and Adam Feeney. David Skoch of Czech Republic and Feeney were the second seeds in the doubles event. Things didn’t go their way and they lost in the first round 10-5 in the super tiebreak. It was a better week for Colin Ebelthite who went on to win the Slovakian Challenger with partner Canadian Jaroslav Pospisil. The Aussie/Canadian team shared €3950 and received 90 ranking points.

The Thailand Open got underway this weekend. Greg Jones, the number six seed is in the final round of qualifying against German Rainer Schuettler. Ashley Fisher is more known for playing doubles but he decided to give it a go in the singles qualifying. Fisher lost in the first round to Kiwi Jose Statham 6-2 6-2.

Former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt is the official Ambassador for the Sydney International in January. Hewitt is a four time Champion in Sydney winning in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005. Part of Hewitt’s new role is to run a Kids’ Tennis Clinic in November and also attend an International Charity Pro-Am event.

The South Australian has also confirmed he will be playing at the Sydney International as well as taking on his new role. “It’s a really special tournament for me and I have great memories from my four titles here. The support I have received at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre over the years has been fantastic and I can’t wait to kick start my 2012 season in front of a packed Ken Rosewall Arena, Hewitt said”

The Sydney International will be held at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre from the 8^th to the 14th of January, 2012.