Tournament preview
By Craig Gabriel
The Medibank International Sydney has produced the most striking line-up of players of any tournament leading up to the year’s first major, the Australian Open.
The players that will dive and grunt and stretch and scramble about the courts of Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre are a veritable feast.
On the women’s side Serena Williams, the world’s best player leads a line-up that screams brilliance … nine of the top ten stars from the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour will be supported by Australia’s number one player Samantha Stosur as well as reigning French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.
The men also promise to create a thrilling atmosphere at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre and are lead by one of the most charismatic players on the ATP World Tour, Gael Monfils. Right behind him is one of Australia’s great players of the last 20 year, Lleyton Hewitt who is looking to write a piece of his own history at the Medibank International Sydney as he tries to win a Open-era record fifth title.
“This is shaping up to be a tournament to really remember and tennis fans are in for a treat with all the big names gracing the courts,” Tournament Director Craig Watson said.
“Our women’s field is Grand Slam level and our men promise to electrify the tennis centre with their power and personalities.”
In 2009 Serena Williams returned to play the tournament after seven years and it was a week she really enjoyed. The world No.1 reached the semifinals and played some fantastic matches, saving match points against Stosur and Caroline Wozniacki who returns this year as the world number four and US Open runner-up.
For Williams, those matches gave her the start she needed to the season and helped her to win the Australian Open two weeks later.
“I have never won Sydney and that is a goal of mine to do; there are so many great names on the Honour Board and I’d like mine up there,” she said.
The defending champion Elena Dementieva and finalist Dinara Safina, the first player to arrive in Sydney this year, are returning as is former world No.1 Jelena Jankovic.
The last time Hewitt held the trophy aloft was in 2005, it was his 24th career title and he defeated Czech Ivo Minar in the final.
This year marks his tenth appearance at the tournament which is more than any of other 27 players with direct acceptance into the main draw. Hewitt has often said the Ken Rosewall Arena is one of his favourite courts anywhere in the world.
Monfils will be making his first appearance at the Medibank International Sydney and local fans are in for a treat with his movement around the court. Tomas Berdych’s big game will also impress and will be joined by Stan Wawrinka, Sam Querrey and former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis.
France has the most players direct in, three, and is followed by Russia, Germany and the USA with two each.
Corporate hospitality 2011
Medibank International Sydney 2011 promises to be the harbour city’s sports and entertainment experience of the summer. Experience first class facilities and enjoy the incredible tennis action at Medibank International Sydney 2011. More information »