First wildcards announced for Melbourne Slam

Tennis Australia has announced its first tranche of Australian Open singles wildcards, with Aussie players Daria Saville, Maddison Inglis, Sam Stosur and Storm Sanders all handed main draw spots.

“I’m really, really excited,” Inglis, 23, and from Perth, said of receiving a wildcard. “It’s my favourite tournament of the whole year … so I can’t wait.”

Saville, who married fellow Aussie player Luke Saville earlier this month, is looking forward to contesting her eighth Australian Open main draw.

“I’ve had 10 months off and was working really hard to get back, so I’m really excited to have a chance and the opportunity to play in the main draw of the Australian Open,” she said.

Sanders has been rewarded with a wildcard following a career-best season where the 27-year-old saw her ranking climb to No.119.

Stosur, the US Open 2011 champion and former world No.4, is set to make her 20th Australian Open main draw appearance.

Further AO wildcard announcements will be made in the new year.

Peter Rowe

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