Tere-Apisah set to feature in tennis playoff

THE Australian Open Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-off will see some of the region’s most exciting tennis talent in cluding Papua New Guinea’s Abigail Tere-Apisah, pictured, from today until Sun (Dev 2) Zhuhai, China.
Men’s and women’s wildcards in both singles and doubles, plus junior boys’ and girls’ singles wildcards will be up for grabs following a week of competitive competition.
Last year’s winners, Soonwoo Kwon from Korea in the men’s singles, and Xinyu Wang from China in the women’s singles, are returning as well as finalists Li Zhe and Tere-Apisah, when they compete for respective singles wildcards.
Former world No.14 Shuai Peng will compete in the play-off for the first time.
Currently, ranked No.298, she is the most experienced player in the women’s singles field and will be one to watch.
For the first time there will be a player from the Northern Mariana Islands, world 499 Colin Sinclair who will compete in the men’s singles qualifying event.
Former top 20 doubles player and top 100 singles player Saisai Zheng will compete in the women’s doubles tournament.
In total players from more than 10 countries including China, India, Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, New Zealand, PNG and the Northern Mariana Islands will play at the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-off.
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-off had become an important part — and tradition — of the lead up to the first Grand Slam of the year.
“It’s going to be a brilliant and very competitive week of tennis in Zhuhai,” Tiley said.
“The Asia-Pacific Wildcard Play-off is just one part of the Australian Open’s commitment to building our tournament in the region.
The week is a wonderful opportunity for a player, whether it be a more established player trying to comeback or a new talent trying to make their first Grand Slam, to win an entry into the Australian Open,” Tiley said.
“Some incredible talent will be on display in China, and we look forward to welcoming whoever wins a wildcard to Melbourne for what is shaping up to be a brilliant Australian Open.”