Tennis Australia Holds Wild Card Playoffs

Written by: Staff on 12th December 2011

Tennis Australia Holds Wild Card Playoffs |

Teenaged Wimbledon junior champion Ashleigh Barty joined Marinko Matosevic in winning wild cards into next month’s Australian Open with victory in the annual playoff series at Melbourne.

Barty,15, who shocked the tennis world with her Wimbledon triumph over the summer , showed continuing progress in a playoff finals win over experienced second seed Olivia Rogowska, coming back from a first-set deficit for a 7-6 (8-6), 6-2 win.

“I can’t describe how I’m feeling right now. I’m pleased with what I’ve done and I’ve played some really good tennis this week,” said Barty. “I don’t really want to think about it (playing in her first Grand Slam main draw) yet.

“I’ll probably go out there and play some horrendous tennis and be really nervous, but I’ll just go out there and have some fun.” Barty earned a wild card into the wildcard playoffs after sweeping the national 18 series.

On the men’s side, Matosevic booked in over James Duckworth 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.

It’s a great opportunity, an honor and a privilege to get into a Grand Slam tournament by winning this,” said the ATP 203, playing the home major for the third time.