Medibank International Sydney Tennis - Australian Open Series

Aussies take centre stage

Medibank International Monday 12 January 2009 Comments

Tournament officials are branding day three of the Medibank International Sydney ‘Super Tuesday’, with Aussies Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione, world No. 2 Serena Williams and defending champion Dmitry Tursunov all scheduled to play on Ken Rosewall Arena.

Four-time Medibank International Sydney champion Hewitt is third match on Ken Rosewall Arena. He takes on world No. 48 Julien Benneteau of France. The pair have played twice before with one win a piece. The Frenchman won their last meeting in Las Vegas last year 6-3 7-5.

Last year’s men’s singles finalist Chris Guccione takes on sixth seed, Czech Tomas Berdych in the fourth match on Ken Rosewall Arena.  It was in the quarterfinals here last year that the Aussie left hander defeated Berdych 4-6 7-6(6) 6-4.

On the woman’s side, No. 1 seed Serena Williams will continue her Sydney adventure, playing Italian Sara Errani in the second match on centre court. Errani, who defeated Casey Dellacqua on Monday, lost her only match against the American in straight sets in Rome last year

Tournament Director Craig Watson said he expected the atmosphere from Sunday’s electric record crowd to be repeated at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre tomorrow. 

“We have already had two outstanding days of tennis here at the Medibank International Sydney and we expect Tuesday will be the same,” Watson said.

“With a stellar line up including Hewitt, Williams, Guccione and Tursunov, the fans can expect more brilliant tennis and a day to remember.”

Opening up play tomorrow is an intriguing match up between world No. 10 Agnieszka Radwanska and world No. 21 Daniela Hantuchova.

Slovak Hantuchova has been a regular visitor to Sydney, having played in the event every year since 2001. The pair have played twice with one win each; Hantuchova claimed the most recent victory at the 2008 Australian Open.

Defending men’s singles champion Tursunov will play Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the fifth match on Ken Rosewall Arena tomorrow. 

In arguably the best first round match up, Gasquet will be looking for a repeat of his semifinals run in the Brisbane International last week, but the Russian won’t be letting up as he begins his title defence. The pair have played five times, with Tursunov leading 4-1.

Other matches of note tomorrow include Australian-based Slovak Jarmila Gajdosova in a second round encounter with Russian third seed Elena Dementieva, and No. 8 seed Mardy Fish plays Serbian Janko Tipsarevic.

The top four men’s seeds Novak Djokovic, Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and David Nalbandian play their first round matches on Wednesday.

Great tickets for all sessions are available through Ticketek. Call 1300 888 104 or visit the website – www.ticketek.com.au.

Order of play

Video: Daniela Hantuchova interview

Tags: Agnieszka Radwanska, Chris Guccione, Daniela Hantuchova, Dmitry Tursunov, Lleyton Hewitt, Richard Gasquet, Serena Williams

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