MELBOURNE, January 22, 2019 (Press Release)

Defending champions Shingo Kunieda (JPN), Diede de Groot (NED) and Dylan Alcott (AUS) headline a big list of names ready to contest the Australian Open Wheelchair Championships at Melbourne Park from Wednesday 23 to Saturday 26 January 2019.

In the men’s field Australian hopes rest solely on wildcard Ben Weekes (NSW) who returns to the tournament for the first time since 2017. Other past singles champions in the draw also include Gustavo Fernandez (ARG) and Gordon Reid(GBR).

Marjolein Buis has been awarded the wildcard for the women’s event, one of three in the women’s draw from the Netherlands. The field also sees De Groot, YuiKamiji, Aniek Van Koot and Sabine Ellerbrock who have all won the AO previously, competing for the title.

Fan favourite Alcott (Vic) will be competing for an astonishing fifth straight title in the quad field, with three-time Aus Open victor David Wagner, Britain’s Andy Lapthorne and wildcard entrant Heath Davidson (Vic) rounding out the draw.

“Wheelchair Tennis at the Australian Open continues to grow bigger and better each year,” Australian Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament Director Sascha Miller said.

“We’re looking forward to once again hosting the world’s best wheelchair tennis players this week and can’t wait to see some electrifying tennis.”

The official draw was conducted this morning, the full men’s, women’s and quad draws are attached.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2019 WHEELCHAIR TENNIS FIELD

MEN	WOMEN	QUAD
Shingo Kunieda (JPN) (1)	Diede de Groot (NED) (1)	Dylan Alcott (AUS) (1)
Alfie Hewett (GBR) (2)	Yui Kamiji (JPN) (2)	David Wagner (USA) (2)
Gustavo Fernandez (ARG) (3)	Aniek Van Koot (NED) (3)	Andy Lapthorne (GBR) (3)
Joachim Gerard (BEL) (4)	Sabine Ellerbrock (GER) (4)	[WC] Heath Davidson (AUS) (5)
Stephane Houdet (FRA) (5)	Guilia Cappoci (ITA) (5)
Stefan Olsson (SWE) (6)	Kgothatso Montjane (RSA) (6)
Gordon Reid (GBR) (7)	Lucy Shuker (GBR) (7)
[WC] Benjamin Weekes (AUS) (20)	[WC] Marjolein Buis (NED) (8)