14 March 2016 | Tennis ACT

Three time Grand Slam doubles finalist, Ashleigh Barty (QLD) will headline doubles action at the ACT Claycourt International #1 tomorrow, meanwhile three more Australian’s have secured positions in the main draw after qualifying concluded today.

Barty, who made her comeback to competitive tennis in Perth last month, will partner Arina Rodionova (VIC) in the women’s doubles. They take on Australian’s Lizette Cabrera (QLD) and Sally Peers (VIC) and face a possible second round against fourth seeds, Canberra’s Alison Bai and Ya-Hsuan Lee (TPE).

Three more Australian’s have qualified for the main draw after scoring wins in today’s final round of qualifying. Top seed Tammi Patterson (VIC) survived a tight second set against Aiko Yoshitoma (JPN) to secure her position, while Sally Peers (VIC) comfortably accounted for fellow Aussie Karolina Wlodarczak (VIC). 15 year old Destanee Aiava (VIC) defeated Maddison Inglis (WA) and will now take on Canberra’s Ashley Keir in the first round of main draw.

Main draw singles will also kick off tomorrow with plenty of seeds in action. The number 2 through six seeds will all start their campaigns tomorrow, with the match between sixth seed Erika Sema (JPN) and Australian Storm Sanders (WA) sure to be a highlight. The only other Australian in action tomorrow is wildcard Naiktha Bains (QLD) who takes on Chieh-Yu Hsu (TPE).

Entry into the Canberra Tennis Centre is free, with main draw singles and doubles commencing at 10am on Tuesday 15 March. Tournament draws and the order of play can be found here. Live scoring will be available here.

The ACT Claycourt International #1 and #2 will be held at the Canberra Tennis Centre from March 12-27. Each tournament will offer $25,000 in prizemoney and will be held on the recently redeveloped European clay courts.

The tournaments were announced in May, 2015 as part of the Tennis ACT calendar of events secured through the redevelopment of the Canberra Tennis Centre.

The redeveloped Canberra Tennis Centre features 28 tennis courts – including synthetic grass, Italian clay and hardcourt surfaces – as well as four ANZ Tennis Hot Shots courts.

For more information about the Australian Pro Tour visit tennis.com.au/protour