Melbourne, 24 August 2011 | tennis.com.au

Melburnian Marinko Matosevic has been granted a US Open wildcard following the late withdrawal of Lleyton Hewitt from the year’s final Grand Slam.

Hewitt aggravated a foot injury during his first-round loss to Blaz Kavcic (SLO) at the Winston-Salom Open, a US Open lead-in event.

Currently ranked 148, Matosevic will now be spared the rigors of playing qualifying and enter the main draw of the US Open for the first time.

Matosevic is coming into good form on the US hard courts. Recent results include qualifying in Washington before a loss to world No.19 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) in the first round, and qualifying and reaching the second round in Atlanta.

At Wimbledon Matosevic defeated fellow Australian Chris Guccione in the final round of qualifying and fought hard in a brave four-set first round loss to world No.20 Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG).

Matosevic has been replaced in the US Open qualifying event by countryman Carsten Ball who will take on Brazil’s Ricardo Hocevar.