Brisbane International organisers are confident they have assembled one of the best scheduled days of tennis in Queensland in decades.
“Both Monday’s day and night sessions have been stacked with a tantalising blend of emerging local talent, athletes on the comeback, crowd favorites, a Davis Cup hero as well as some Grand Slam winners and finalists, including two former world No.1 players,” a delighted Brisbane International tournament director Steve Ayles explained today. “Just look at the great array of names … Baghdatis, Ivanovic, Mauresmo, Verdasco, Dokic, Safarova and a couple of local kids in Holland and Tomic .”
“Magic Monday” starts with Brisbane teenager Isabella Holland making her Sony Ericsson WTA Tour debut on Pat Rafter Arena against 65th-ranked Czech Lucie Safarova.
The much-loved 2006 Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis makes his eagerly awaited return to the tour next with a difficult task against super consistent Fin Jarkko Nieminen, who finished the year ranked 38 – the sixth time in the past seven years he has finished in the top 50.
Next on court will be one of the most intriguing contests of the opening round of the Brisbane International – a former world No.1 up against a former world No.4 with both looking to climb back up the rankings.
French star Amelie Mauresmo faces a super-competitive opponent in Jelena Dokic.
“I played her a few times I guess but it was quite a long time ago now,” Mauresmo noted at the official draw.
In fact she holds a 2-1 record over Dokic, with wins on carpet and clay – the loss coming on clay. However, the last time they met was in 2003.
Dokic returned to the game last year and has lifted her ranking to 179 with limited tournament play. She already has some matches under her belt this summer winning the Australian Open Play-off in December.
Serbian world No.5 Ana Ivanovic opens a blockbuster Monday night session on Pat Rafter Arena with a match against Czech teenager Petra Kvitova (No.50) who she beat in their only two meetings in 2008.
Then talented teenager Bernard Tomic makes his ATP World Tour debut against Spanish Davis Cup winning hero and world No.16 Fernando Verdasco.
“There are still tickets available for both sessions, but they are selling quickly.,” Ayles said.
Action on the show courts and outside courts starts at 10:00 am. Play on Pat Rafter Arena starts 10:30 am for the day session and at 7:00 pm on Monday night.
Monday Pat Rafter Arena schedule:
Day session
Isabella Holland v Lucie Safarova
Marcos Baghdatis v Jarkko Nieminen
Jelena Dokic v Amelie Mauresmo
Night session (starts 7pm)
Ana Ivanovic v Petra Kvitova
Fernando Verdasco v Bernard Tomic
Tickets are on sale at the gate with reserved stadium seating starting at just $24.90. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.ticketek.com.au or 1300 888 104.