Casey Dellacqua and Jordan Thompson won wild card entry into the 2014 Australian Open via the December showdown Wild Card Playoffs.
The Australian Open Wild Card Playoff is a knockout tournament featuring 16 each of the best Australian men and women tennis players. The prize for the winners of the men’s and women’s events is a place in the first round draw of the 2014 Australian Open.
The tournament is held at Melbourne Park, home of the Australian Open. In 2013 both finals were held on 15 December. Entry is free and it’s a great chance to start getting warmed up for watching the Australian Open series.
Women’s Final
The women’s final featured the current Australian number two and three ranked players Casey Dellacqua (current world ranking 141) and Arina Rodionova (world ranking 164) respectively.
In reaching the final Dellacqua had only lost one set, to Monique Adamczak in her quarterfinal, while Rodionova made the final without dropping a set.
Dellacqua won the final 5-7, 6-1, 6-0 in 1 hour and 31 minutes.
Dellacqua
Rodionova
Dellacqua
Rodionova
Casey shares the good news
Post match interview
Very happy about the win
Men’s Final
Jordan Thompson (current Australian number 15 and world ranking of 318) defeated Ben Mitchell (Australian number 13, world ranking of 262 and winner of last year’s Australian Open Wild Card Playoff) 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1 in 3 hours and 23 minutes.
The final was both players’ first five set match of the tournament.
Mitchell
Thompson
Mitchell
Thompson
Court 6, where the finals were played
It was a gorgeous Melbourne day for the finals.
Beautiful Melbourne
Melbourne Park Development
Margaret Court Arena at Melbourne Park is being redeveloped to have more seats and a roof. Although the work won’t be completed until 2015, it looks like there will be a lot more shade and covered areas in time for AO 2014.
Margaret Court Arena under construction
Another view of the construction
It’s now only 4 weeks to go until AO. Are you ready?
Until next time
Grand Slam Gal