Aussies around the globe – Fisher retires, Wildcard for Tomic

Written by: Staff on 23rd October 2011

Aussies around the globe – Fisher retires, Wildcard for Tomic

Bernard Tomic of Australia hits a return to Michael Yani of the US during their first round match on the first day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 29 August 2011. The US Open runs through 11 September 2011. EPA/PETER FOLEY |

Australian doubles specialist Ashley Fisher pulled the plug on his 13-year career playing doubles on the ATP Tour circuit. Currently ranked No. 95 with a career high ranking of 19 back in 2009. The player from New South Wales has won four career doubles titles with three different partners. His best moment was when he won Indianapolis in 2008 with good friend American Tripp Philips. Fisher and wife Kirsten are now proud parents of son Holden who was born at the end of July.

The qualifying event at If Stockholm Open only had one Australian player competing and it was Victorian Peter Luczak who currently resides in the South of Sweden with his Swedish wife and kids. Looch won his first round against Swedish wildcard Lucas Renard. Unfortunately, the number seven seed Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan hindered Luczak to reach the final round of the qualifying.

In the Stockholm Open main draw Australia’s number one player Bernard Tomic was awarded a wildcard. Tomic battled to get through to the second round with Estonian qualifier Jurgen Zopp. In the second round the Aussie teenager lost to top seed Gael Monfils in three sets.

Still trying to find his form Queenslander Paul Hanley and partner Dick Norman lost in the first round again. This time it was against Belgian Xavier Malisse and German Frank Moser. The 33-year-old Commonwealth Gold medallist is currently No. 46. In 2006 Hanley was at a career high of No. 6.

Colin Ebelthite and Adam Feeney went to France last week for Challenger event Open d’Orleans. The two Aussies made it into the doubles draw but not playing as a team. Ebelthite teamed up with German Dustin Brown and they lost in the first round. They were seeded No. 3. Feeney’s week was a little better. He and partner Roberto Bautista-Agut of Spain reached the semi-finals before losing to David Skoch of Czech Republic and Simon Vagnozzi of Italy.

South Australian Jordan Kerr and his partner David Martin of the United States entered into the Samsung Securities Cup in Seoul in Korea. Kerr and Martin were top seeds. All went to plan until the Aussie/American team lost to Indian number four seeds Purav Raja and Divil Sharan in the semi-finals.

Congratulations to Carsten Ball and Chris Guccione who won the First Republic Bank Tiburon Challenger in California last week. This event is a $100k event. The Gooch and The Ball defeated American duo Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey 6-1 5-7 10-6. The Australians will share USD $6 200 and receive 100 ranking points.

The Apia International in Sydney have announced three more players who will visit Sydney the week before the Australian Open. In the men’s singles the ever so popular Marcos Baghdatis will make an appearance. The Cypriot won Sydney in 2010. “I am excited to go back there and feel the heat,” Baghdatis said.

In the women’s draw last year’s winner Chinese superstar Li Na has confirmed her attendance. Li Na said, “Sydney is one of my favourite cities. I love the Opera House. It is very famous in China if I have time next year I will try and visit the Harbour Bridge and maybe climb it.”

Li Na will encounter some tough competition after Samantha Stosur told the organisers she will be in Sydney. The newly crowned US Open Champion said, “Sydney is one of the best cities in the world and I spend all my pre-season training there at Sydney Olympic Park, so playing there is really special for me.”

The Apia International’s tournament director Craig Watson said, “We are thrilled that Australia’s World No. 7 Samantha Stosur and French Open Champion World No. 6 Li Na will complete their Australian Open preparations at the Apia International in Sydney.”

Topics: Ashley Fisher, Bernard Tomic, Gael Monfils, Jordan Kerr