19 December 2011 | Tennis West

WEST Australian Matt Ebden has been handed a wildcard entry to next month’s Brisbane International.

Ebden, who qualified for last year’s event, made it to the quarter-finals before being defeated by the eventual champion Robin Soderling.

The No.86 has had an amazing season in 2011 that has seen him rise to be Australia’s No.2 ranked men’s player.

Ebden is hoping to better his performance from last year.

“Brisbane is easily one of my favourite tournaments of the year,” Ebden said.

“I have had some promising results there in the last two years and in a way that has helped be a springboard for me into the rest of the summer and the 2012 tennis season.

“I hope that it may be the place where I win my first singles title.”