SYDNEY, October 24, 2017 (Press Release)
Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko will star at the Sydney International in 2018.
Ostapenko will join seven-time major winner Venus Williams in January’s field, where Williams marks 20 years since her first appearance at the WTA Premier tournament.
Ostapenko has enjoyed a breakthrough season, becoming the first Latvian to win a Grand Slam tournament and the first unseeded player to win the French Open since 1933.
The 20-year-old went on to win her second WTA title in Seoul in September and earlier this month hit a career-high ranking of No.7.
This week she will debut at the WTA Finals in Singapore, featuring among the world’s top eight women battling for the year-end championship.
“I’m looking forward to playing at the Sydney International in 2018,” said Ostapenko, who is making her second appearance in Sydney after playing in qualifying in 2016.
“I want to prepare for next year and try to play as well as I can in Sydney and at the Australian Open.
“It’s a really good tournament, it’s a beautiful city and I hope I have some time to explore Sydney.”
Sydney International Tournament Director and Tennis NSW CEO Lawrence Robertson said he was delighted to welcome Jelena Ostapenko back to the Sydney International.
“Jelena has had an incredible year on the international circuit and will be a formidable contender in January. Her stunning performance at Roland Garros was thrilling to watch, and we cannot wait to see this level of passion, grit and determination in Sydney,” he said.
“To secure two of the world’s top players is a huge coup for the tournament and we are looking forward to putting on a world-class show that will draw fans from Australia and across the globe.”
New initiatives for Sydney International 2018 include:
· Free entry for kids with any paying adult for all sessions (excluding finals)
· First-ever blockbuster Saturday night finals for both the men and women, providing a star-studded lineup for fans and a showcase of international tennis.
