A world class field is set to line up for the Apis Canberra International 2018 from 27 October – 4 November at the Canberra Tennis Centre. The tournament features a USD$75,000 ATP Challenger event and a USD$60,000 ITF Women’s event.
Jordan Thompson (NSW) and Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) will headline the men’s draw, while defending women’s champion Olivia Rogowska (Vic), Arina Rodionova (Vic) and Gabriella Taylor (GBR) will feature in the women’s draw.
Thompson is coming into the event of a strong of solid performances on the ATP Challenger tour. Last week he took out the title at the Latrobe City Traralgon ATP Challenger event, defeating Nishioka is the final. The previous week, he made the final of the ATP Challenger event in Calgary, Canada before going down to big serving Ivo Karlovic in the final.
The results have seen him just back into the world’s top 100, with the 24-year-old currently sitting at No.87. Thompson has made a further four finals in 2018 and hosts six career ATP Challenger titles.
Nishioka will head to Canberra full of confidence after claiming his maiden ATP 250 title at the Shenzhen Open last month. The world No.98 came through qualifying and overcame five top 100 opponents to win the title, including victories over Fernando Verdasco (ESP) and Denis Shapovalov (CAN).
2016 champion James Duckworth (NSW) will be back as he looks to continue his return from injury, while Marc Polmans (Vic) and Alex Bolt (SA) are in good form, having both hit career high rankings this month.
Hiroki Moriya (JPN) and Yosuke Watanuki (JPN) and 18-year-old rising star Nicola Kuhn (ESP) will join Nishioka in leading the international contingent with 15 countries represented in the men’s main draw and qualifying events.
Sixteen of Australia’s top 20 female players will compete in the women’s draw, with defending champion Rogowska happy to be back in the capital.
“I played some great tennis in Canberra last year and I’m excited to be returning to defend my Apis Canberra International title.”
“It’s a really strong field so I am expecting some tough matches which will be valuable ahead of the upcoming Australian summer,” Rogowska said.
Rodionova holds nine career singles ITF titles, winning Portugal in April this year, and currently sits at world No.161 in the WTA rankings.
A host of up and coming Australians are sure to provide tough competition with Priscilla Hon (Qld), Lizette Cabrera (Qld), Jamiee Fourlis (Vic), Destanee Aiava (Vic) and Ellen Perez (NSW) all ranked inside the world’s top 250.
Taylor will return to Australia after a breakthrough run here earlier this year which saw her win three ITF titles. She hit a career high ranking of 168 in June and went on to play at Wimbledon and was named in Great Britain’s Fed Cup team for the first time.
A strong contingent of Japanese players will feature including 2016 champion Risa Ozaki and former finalist Eri Hozumi.
Canberra’s Alison Bai is currently sitting two spots out from the main draw and will have to wait until closer to the event to see if she is required to play qualifying.
Apis Canberra International tournament director Kim Kachel is thrilled with the lineup for the event
“We are extremely excited to announce another world class international field of players for the Apis Canberra International 2018.
“It’s great to have former champion James Duckworth return along with the likes of Jordan Thompson, Marc Polmans and Alex Bolt. I’m also looking forward to seeing Yoshihito Nishioka and the talented Nicola Kuhn in action.
“On the women’s side, it’s fantastic to have 16 of the top 20 female Australian players here, along with a strong contingent from Japan.”
Kachel says the event plays an important role in highlighting tennis participation in the capital.
“Participation will be leveraged through the event through various activations, highlighted by our second year of Kids Tennis Day on Saturday 3 November which will be a fun morning of family activities.
About the event
Part of The Australian Pro Tour, the next generation of top tennis players are set to compete when the Apis Canberra International kicks off at the Canberra Tennis Centre from October 27 – November 4 with a USD$75,000 ATP Challenger event and a USD$60,000 ITF Women’s event.
Players from the world’s top 200, and a crop of rising tennis stars from Australia and across the globe, will compete for significant prize money and valuable world ranking points, as they look to boost their rankings ahead of the Australian Summer of Tennis.
Kids Tennis Day, a free community event, will return on Saturday 3 November from 9am-11am. For more details about Kids Tennis Day, click here.
Entry to the Canberra Tennis Centre is free from 27 October – 2 November. Entry is by gold coin donation on finals weekend. A limited amount of paid reserved seating and corporate hospitality is available. To find out more, click here.
Article updated on 30 October. Unfortunately top seed Jason Kubler was forced to withdraw due to injury prior to his first round match.
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