2 November 2015 | Tennis Victoria

Six nations are represented in the 10 top-ranked players set to battle it out at next week’s William Loud Bendigo International at Bendigo Tennis Centre.

Australians Jessica Moore (WA) and Alison Bai (ACT) will join some of the world’s best tennis players in regional Victoria, where US$50,000 in prize money and world ranking points will be on the line.

The Aussie pair will be joined by a strong Japanese contingent including top seed and world No.180 Riko Sawayanagi, defending champion and world No.177 Eri Hozumi, world No.205 Misa Eguchi, world No.211 Hiroko Kuwata and world No.246 Erika Sema.

In-form world No.184 Cindy Burger (NED), who has reached the semifinals at Australian Pro Tour events in both Toowoomba and Cairns in recent weeks, will also challenge for the title.

Contenders from a total of 14 nations – including Russia, China, Sweden, Germany, the USA, Austria and France – make up the impressive international field.

Aussies [351] Arina Rodionova (Vic) and [369] Storm Sanders (WA) will bolster local hopes to crown the first Australian champion since Casey Dellacqua (WA) in 2013.

Bendigo Premier League player Eliza Long (Vic) will mark her return to professional-level tennis after being offered a wildcard into the qualifying event.

The all-female William Loud Bendigo International event forms part of the Australian Pro Tour, which provides local and international players the ideal lead-in to the domestic summer of tennis.

Bendigo International Tournament Director Andy Reynolds said the Bendigo leg of the series was a chance for players to acclimatise to Victorian weather conditions as they continue on their path to Australian Open 2016.

“The quality of the playing list is exceptional. Strong showings from the top ranked players in recent weeks means the standard of tennis will be exceptional,” he said.

“We’re thrilled with the strength of the field we have assembled for the 2015 William Loud Bendigo International and excited to welcome some of the best Australian and international rising stars to the region.

“The outstanding facility at Bendigo Tennis Association is an ideal venue to host elite-level tournaments, and I encourage all local tennis fans to come along and experience international tennis right in their own backyard.”

Qualifying for the 2015 William Loud Bendigo International women’s event gets under way at Bendigo Tennis Centre on Sunday 8 November, with main draw action scheduled to commence on Tuesday 10 November.

The 2015 William Loud Bendigo International is part of the Bendigo Festival of Tennis, a fortnight-long event that offers playing and spectating opportunities to people of all ages and abilities.

This year will also see the introduction of the Australian Wheelchair Tennis National Championships as part of the Festival.

Up to 30 of Australia’s leading male and female wheelchair players will be on court from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November. The champion of the men’s event will receive a wildcard to the wheelchair event at Australian Open 2016 at the discretion of Tennis Australia.

Other events included in the 2015 Bendigo Festival of Tennis include the Bendigo International Pro Tour Junior Tournament (31 October – 3 November), Bendigo International Pro Tour AMT (4 –7 November), Bendigo Primary Schools Championships (6 November), Bendigo Bank Academy of Sport Training Session (8 November) and the Bendigo Festival of Tennis Corporate Challenge (13 November).