Strong Men and Women Tennis Line-up for 2012 Australian Open

Written by: Staff on 19th December 2011

Exhibition game of US tennis players Serena Williams and Venus Williams

Strong Men and Women Tennis Line-up for 2012 Australian Open

US tennis player Venus Williams hits the ball against Serena Williams during their exhibit game held in Medellin, Colombia, 23 November 2011. Venus won by 6-4, 7-6 (4). Colombia is the first Latin American country that the Williams sisters visit in their entire professional career. EPA/LUIS EDUARDO NORIEGA |

(Courtesy of the ITF)

Next year’s Australian Open is expected to feature 99 of the world’s top 100 in both the men’s and women’s draws.

Only Robin Soderling (SWE) and Alisa Kleybanova (RUS), both of whom are recovering from long-term illness, have ruled themselves out.

The 104 direct acceptances into the men’s draw include Tommy Haas (GER), Fernando Gonzalez (CHI), Benjamin Becker (GER) and Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA), all of whom used their injury protected rankings.

The women’s draw includes 108 direct acceptances, with Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) and Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) both using protected rankings as they return from injury. Venus Williams (USA), currently ranked No. 105, has also made the cut. Williams hasn’t played since withdrawing from her second-round US Open match after being diagnosed with autoimmune disease Sjögren’s Syndrome.

Rising US star Madison Keys and former top 100 player Jesse Levine (USA) have secured their wild card entry to the 2012 Australian Open after winning the USTA Australian Open wild card play-off on Sunday. They will join Ashleigh Barty (AUS) and Marinko Matosevic (AUS), who won the Australian Open play-off, as well as the Australian trio of Casey Dellacqua, Matthew Ebden and Lleyton Hewitt, who have all been awarded discretionary wild cards.

(Courtesy of the ITF)

Topics: Australian Open, Casey Dellacqua, Lleyton Hewitt, Matthew Ebden, Serena Williams, Venus Williams