FEDERER LEADS ALL-STAR BRISBANE LINE-UP

Four of the Top 20 men – including tennis superstar Roger Federer – will headline Brisbane International 2014 presented by Suncorp.

Seventeen-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer will lead a strong men’s field, which features Top 20 players Kei Nishikori, Gilles Simon and Kevin Anderson alongside a raft of rising talent.

Brisbane International 2013 runner-up Grigor Dimitrov returns to the Sunshine State looking to go one better in 2014, but will be forced to overcome a world class field including local hopes Lleyton Hewitt (SA), Marinko Matosevic (Vic) and 18-year-old wildcard Nick Kyrgios (ACT) in his pursuit of the title.

Brisbane International Tournament Director Cameron Pearson said the 2014 field was one of the strongest in the event’s history.

“The calibre of the field assembled for Brisbane International 2014 is one of the greatest on record, and we’re certainly looking forward to welcoming the world’s top players to Queensland Tennis Centre in December,” he said.

“To have Roger Federer and Serena Williams headline the event, and a line-up that features four of the world’s Top 20 men and six of the Top 10 women, is a remarkable result and testament to the high regard the players have for the tournament.

“It’s thanks to the incredible support the event receives from Queensland tennis fans that so many of the world’s leading players have chosen to start their 2014 campaigns here in Brisbane, and consider the tournament their ideal lead-in to the Australian Open.

“Tennis fans can certainly look forward to eight days of world class action from some of the biggest stars of the game in 2014.”

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games Jann Stuckey said she looked forward to seeing the world’s top tennis players step onto Pat Rafter Arena in December for one of Queensland’s most highly anticipated sporting events.

“We look forward to welcoming some of the biggest names in world tennis to Brisbane International 2014, now in its sixth year, and wish all the players the very best,” Ms Stuckey said.

“I have no doubt this exceptional line-up of tennis talent will attract bumper crowds to Brisbane for the event.

“The Queensland Government is proud to support Brisbane International 2014 as part of its goal to double the annual overnight visitor expenditure from $15 billion to $30 billion by 2020.”

The official ATP field for Brisbane International 2014 is as follows:

Player – Emirates ATP Ranking
Roger Federer (SUI) – 6
Kei Nishikori (JPN) – 17
Gilles Simon (FRA) – 19
Kevin Anderson (RSA) – 20
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) – 23
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) – 27
Feliciano Lopez (ESP) – 28
Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) – 29
Jeremy Chardy (FRA) – 34
Julien Benneteau (FRA) – 35
Marin Cilic (CRO) – 37
Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) – 39
Robin Haase (NED) – 43
Denis Istomin (UZB) – 45
Sam Querrey (USA) – 46
Nicolas Mahut (FRA) – 50
Adrian Mannarino (FRA) – 60
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) – 61
Marinko Matosevic (AUS) – 62
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) – 67
Igor Sijsling (NED) – 69
Nick Kyrgios (AUS) – 186 [WC]
WC – wildcard

Source: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2013/11/47/Federer-Headlines-In-Brisbane.aspx

Bernard Tomic's Return Buoys Sydney Officials

HIS life might still hold some uncertainties but organisers believe Benard Tomic will be in the right frame of mind to try to defend his Sydney International title in January.

Tournament director Craig Watson is a relieved man being able to confirm that Tomic has signed on again for the combined ATP-WTA event (January 5-11) at Sydney Olympic Park courts.

“To win his first (ATP) title was an important breakthrough for him but equally important for us to get him back as he's a crowd-pleaser,” Watson said. “His tennis is great to watch.

“I've found that with tennis players when they come back to defend titles they grow an extra leg.”

Tomic's personal life as well as his professional hiccups with his coaching arrangements so often brings the Queenslander into the headlines.

In the lead-up to Sydney last January police were called to the roof of a Gold Coast hotel where Tomic and mates were involved in a scuffle in a hot-tub to celebrate his 20th birthday.

His 21st birthday passed in October without incident.

But the fall-out from the eight-month suspended sentence handed to his father John Tomic for assaulting former warm-up partner Thomas Drouet in May is ongoing.

The ATP and ITF have banned Tomic from being an accredited person at tournaments, including the past three grand slams and next year's Australian Open. Tomic Snr can however buy a ticket to the Sydney International.

Tomic was due to name a new coach this month, but there has been no announcement as yet.

Watson said Tomic showed last time on Ken Rosewall Arena he could handle the pressure of both opponents and public opinion.

“It was a great win by him because he was coming off the back of some issues with his father and Tennis Australia back then too,” Watson said yesterday.

“But he played an absolute fantastic tournament last time.”

Tomic has held a consistent ranking - still No51 in the world - for the past season, although he ended it poorly losing in the first round of his last five events.

Watson also named world No5 Juan Martin Del Potro and Poland's Wimbldeon semi-finalist, and world No21, Jerzy Janowicz as Sydney contenders.

Del Potro enjoyed a boom end of the season making three finals back-to-back and winning two - Tokyo and Basel. The 25-year-old Argentine also made the semis at Wimbledon, falling to Novak Djokovic.

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