Brisbane QLD, Australia, 22 September 2017 | Camilla Campbell

Omar Jasika (Vic) and Asia Muhammad (USA) will headline the field in the Brisbane QTC Tennis International at the Queensland Tennis Centre from 25 September – 1 October.

Local tennis fans will have the opportunity to attend the free event and watch Jasika and Muhammad alongside a crop of up-and-coming tennis stars from around Australia and the world compete for $25,000 in prize money and valuable world ranking points.

Jasika will face strong competition from the likes of world No. 281 Zhe Li (CHN) and defending champion and world No. 287 Dayne Kelly (Vic), as well as local wildcards Ben Mitchell (Qld) and rising star Blake Ellis (Qld) in the men’s draw.

For Mitchell, it’s his second tournament back after taking 12 months off following the birth of his daughter.

“Things have settled down off the court so now I really want to try and focus on the court. I don’t want to have any regrets when I’m older and that’s the main reason for having another crack,” said Mitchell.

Mitchell won his first round at the opening Pro Tour in Alice Springs earlier this week, before losing to second seed Brad Mousley (SA).

“First round I forgot how to play tennis points to be honest, I lost the first set 6-3, and I didn’t know how to win points. I played a pretty good second and third set and then I played Brad Mousley who’s playing the semifinals today and it was a pretty high quality match so I was quite happy.”

“I’m definitely more confident this week than last week even though it is a stronger field, again I’m just hoping for some quality matches and to get a few matches under my belt,” he said.

Blake Ellis, who’s also earned a wildcard into Brisbane, is transitioning to the Pro Tour as a promising junior. This year Ellis made the quarterfinals of the French Open boys singles and semifinals of the Wimbledon boys doubles.

“Blake Ellis being one of our younger players at 18 who also won his first round at Alice Springs this week. Tennis Australia like to reward players in the four to five week swings that are doing well and winning rounds,” said Tournament Director Travis Dragojlo.

Meanwhile in the women’s draw, Muhammad will be joined by top female talent including world No.166 Eri Hozumi (JPN), top seeded Aussie and world No.273 Olivia Rogowska (Vic), and Brisbane’s Priscilla Hon, who is due to soar more than 70 places to world No.233 after reaching her first WTA quarterfinal at the Korean Open overnight.

Other local players to watch out for include Olivia Tjandramulia, Naiktha Bains, and 19 year old Kimberly Birrell, who made her debut in the Australian Fed Cup team in 2016 before being forced off the circuit for eight months with an elbow injury.

“It’s a really strong field this year. In the women’s draw we have five Australian Fed Cup representatives throughout main and qualifying,” said Dragojlo.

“People of Brisbane are so spoilt with the Brisbane International where they see players that are top 10, but the tennis they can see this week is also fantastic.”

Qualifying will begin on Saturday and the main draw on Tuesday with play commencing at 10am each day.