Brisbane to serve as AO taste test for Hon
The Brisbane International will serve as the perfect first-up taste of top-level tennis for Priscilla Hon as she targets the Australian Open later in January.
Brisbane QLD, Australia, 31 December 2015 | AAP
Australian teenager Priscilla Hon hopes a taste of top tennis action at the Brisbane International will be the perfect appetiser for her Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open.
The 17-year-old has been given a wildcard entry for her hometown event starting on Sunday, ahead of her first appearance at Melbourne Park later in January.
Hon booked her Australian Open spot by winning the Australian 18-and-under title in Melbourne earlier in December.
The world No.334 is the highest-ranked Australian woman under 25 and knows how important the next few weeks could be to her tennis career.
“Playing the (Australian) Open main draw will be, I think, definitely nerve-wracking but playing (in Brisbane) first, getting a few matches before Aussie, I’ll definitely get a bit more experience,” she said.
“Maybe handle my nerves a little bit better than I would if I didn’t get the opportunity.”
Hon will find out on Friday when the tournament draw is made just who she’ll face in the Brisbane International’s first round.
A glamour tie against superstars Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova or Simona Halep is possible but it’s a lesser light that Hon has her eyes on.
“Obviously people say Sharapova and people like that but I kinda want to play (Roberta) Vinci, the Italian,” she said.
“I don’t know why. I just do. It’ll be good for me to just have a good game.”