7 January 2016 | Tennis Queensland

Seventeen Australians, including seven Queensland locals join a strong international field in Brisbane to kick off the 2016 Australian Wheelchair Tennis Summer Series at the Queensland Wheelchair Tennis Open.

Top ranked Australian women’s player, Sarah Calati (VIC) will be looking to set up a second round encounter against second seeded Brit, Lucy Shuker, as she takes on French-woman Pauline Helouin.

Adam Kellerman (NSW) leads the Australian contingent as the tournament’s second seed in the men’s event, but faces a tough start to his 2016 Rio Paralympic campaign, drawing 2015 year-end junior boy’s number one and men’s singles world no. 15, Alfie Hewett (GBR).

Australian no.2 men’s player, Ben Weekes (NSW) will look to avenge his Perry New Zealand Open (ITF 3 Series) Singles Final lost yesterday, when he takes to the court in a first round re-match against Japanese fourth seed, Takuya Miki.

Meanwhile, quad world number one and Australian grand slam champion, Dylan Alcott (VIC) will have a relaxing start to the tournament, with a bye in the first round and a couple of rest days ahead of him to sharpen his game.

The Queensland Wheelchair Tennis Open will be held at Griffith University Tennis Centre, Mt. Gravatt from 7 – 10 January. Free entry for spectators.

The main draw semi’s and finals will be played at Brisbane International on  Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 January 2016. Ground passes are available for purchase at ticketek.com.au.

The 2016 Queensland Wheelchair Tennis Open is the first tournament of three in the Australian Wheelchair Tennis Summer Series, a series of professional wheelchair tennis events in the Australian Summer of Tennis. These tournaments provide opportunities for players to earn vital ITF ranking points, ahead of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio De Janeiro.

Click here for more information about the Queensland Wheelchair Tennis Open.

For more information on the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Circuit visit www.itftennis.com/wheelchair.