5 January 2015 | Tennis Queensland

There have been more highs than lows for our Aussie players during round 1 of Brisbane International 2015.

 

In a quick 1hour and 14minutes, Australian wildcard Thanasi Kokkinakis (SA) took the win against Frenchman Julien Benneteau 6-4 6-3.

Kokkinakis, ranked No.150 said he feels like a completely different player to last year.

“I feel really good about my game. It’s my first win against a top 25 player and I feel really strong and fit,” he said.

Kokkinakis had lost previously to Benneteau at the Davis cup early last year.

This win means Kokkinakis will join fellow Aussie wildcard Duckwork in the second round of Brisbane Interntaional.

 

Fellow Australian Wildcard, James Duckworth (NSW) came away with his first win at the Brisbane International 2015 in a straight set defeat against No.21 Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-2 6-2.

Duckworth currently ranked No.125 dominated Simon in just over an hour at Pat Rafter Arena today.

Duckworth said he had a really good pre season, training really hard with a fair bit of work dedicated to playing aggressively.

“That [aggressive] style of play is what is going to get me beating the guys in top 100, top 20 levels,”

My goal is to get inside that top 100 and hopefully I can push forward over the summer and hopefully get into the main draw for those grand slams” he said.

Brisbane is starting to feel a lot like home for Duckworth since he transitioned to training and living here last year. Duckworth also played in the ATL QLD conference held in November 2014.

 

Australian-based Ajla Tomljanovic (QLD), pulled off the first upset of the summer beating 2015 Brisbane International sixth seed and world No.15 Jelena Jankovic in straight sets (7-6, 6-0).

Tomljanovic who currently resides in Brisbane has applied for Australian citizenship but will still be recognised as Croatian at WTA events until approved.

Tomjlanovic said it was very nice to have so much support behind her.

“I tried not to think about too much, just try to stay in the moment and focus more about my game. Every now and then it kind of goes through my mind that I have that on my side now” she said.

Tomjlanovic will now meet either Ukrainian Elina Svitolina or Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarkova in the second round.

 

Unfortunately, Queenslander Sam Stosur let slip a 5-1 third-set lead, surrendering to American Varvara Lepchenko 4-6 6-4 7-5 on Pat Rafter Arena Sunday Night.

“For 99 per cent of that match I’m really happy with the way that I played and what I did,” Stosur said.

“That was the most comfortable and I feel like one of the best matches I’ve played to start my campaign.

“I would go out and do it all over again.”

Stosur will be back in front of a home crowd soon at the Australian Open later this month.