Australian Open Press Release, November 15, 2019
Up-and-coming tennis players Coleman Wong and Erika Matsuda have been awarded wildcards into the Australian Open 2020 Junior Championships after winning the Dunlop Road to the Australian Open Juniors 2020 competition in Yokkaichi, Japan on Thursday.
They were amongst thirty-two juniors (aged 17 or under) from across Asia who battled it out this week at the second edition of the tournament held at Yokkaichi Tennis Centre.
The format was a four-group round robin competition, with two players from each group progressing to a knock out quarterfinal stage. Sixteen boys and sixteen girls from China, Korea, Thailand, Japan and Australia were invited to take part.
Fifteen-year-old Wong, ranked 126 in ITF juniors, defeated third seed Lin Nan Hsun 6-3 6-3 in the boys’ final, while 16-year-old Matsuda, ranked 168 in juniors, defeated Wi Hwui Won 7-6(1) 6-1 to be crowned the girls’ champion. Both winners will be flown to Melbourne in January for the incredible opportunity of competing at Melbourne Park.
Dunlop has worked closely with Tennis Australia to create this meaningful event and give players from the Asia Pacific region the chance of a lifetime to compete at the Australian Open.
The event was played with the Dunlop Australian Open 2020 tennis balls and is part of a wider strategy from Dunlop to invest in tennis grassroots and grow both the sport, and their brand presence, in Asia.
“We’re thrilled Dunlop recognises the importance of investing in the game at every level and have embraced their partnership with the Australian Open to grow the game across the Asia Pacific,” Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said.
“Once again the event this year was a huge success and giving kids in Asia the chance to be part of the Australian Open will inspire thousands to either pick up a racquet for the first time or continue playing the game.”
“We have been very pleased to be an official partner of the Australian Open and it is our great pleasure to have hosted this event in Yokkaichi, Japan,” said Masahiro Asahino, Head of Tennis business of Sumitomo Rubber.
“We hope this great opportunity will help Asia-Pacific juniors to grow not only in tennis experience but also in terms of their global view of the tennis world.”
The official Dunlop Australian Open tennis ball uses the finest natural rubber, combined with Dunlop’s secret recipe of components and premium woven cloth, to create an ultra-consistent ball for high performance.
