Dec. 8, 2010
NORCROSS, GA. – The United States Tennis Association (USTA) Player Development and the Racquet Club of the South have announced the schedule for the 2010 Australian Open Wild Card Playoffs to be held Friday, Dec. 17, through Sunday, Dec. 19, at the indoor courts of the Racquet Club of the South in Norcross, Ga.
Former Yellow Jackets standout Irina Falconi will compete as she continues the stellar start to her professional career.
“I’m really excited to be playing in this event,” Falconi said. “I consider myself to be a Georgia girl now, and I know I’ll have a lot of people there cheering me on. It’s great to have another opportunity to earn a spot in the Australian Open Main Draw. I’ve won a tournament on those courts before and I enjoy playing in that facility, and hope that I can be successful there again.”
The USTA selected eight of the top rising American men and eight of the top rising American women to compete in a single-elimination playoff tournament, with the winner receiving an automatic entry into the 2011 Australian open main draw.
“I have been very impressed with Irina’s success on the professional circuit,” Georgia Tech head coach Bryan Shelton said. “There isn’t another American player who is climbing the ranks as quickly.”
The event will begin Friday, Dec. 17, with the first round matches for the women at 11 a.m., followed by the men’s first round at 3 p.m. Friday evening will offer fans an opportunity to see Billie Jean King, Patrick McEnroe, Mary Joe Fernandez, Melanie Oudin and other tennis stars in the World TeamTennis Exhibition at 8 p.m.
Saturday’s festivities will begin with a free kids’ clinic at 10 a.m., hosted by McEnroe, Fernandez, Oudin and the USTA Player Development Coaches. The women’s semifinal matches will begin at 1 p.m. and the men’s semis will follow.
The weekend will conclude with finals on Sunday, Dec. 18. The women will take center stage at 1 p.m. and the men’s final will immediately follow.
For more information, visit www.australianwildcard.com.
— RamblinWreck.com —
