SYDNEY, December 1, 2017 (Press Release)

Three of the world’s top 10 women – and 20 of the top 30 – will compete at Sydney International 2018.

Among them is Daria Gavrilova (Vic), the exciting Aussie who joins a strong local contingent also featuring Sam Stosur (Qld), Ashleigh Barty (Qld) andJordan Thompson (NSW). Another is former world No.4 and Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova (SVK).

Gavrilova, Stosur, Barty and Cibulkova are part of a women’s field boasting a record six Grand Slam champions.

Stosur, the US Open 2011 champion, is one of them, as is seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams (USA), reigning French and US Open champions Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) and Sloane Stephens (USA), two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova (CZE) and Angelique Kerber (GER), last year’s Australian and US Open champion. 

Defending Sydney International champion and world No.9 Johanna Konta (GBR) is also in the field, as the tournament’s third seed.

The field is one of the strongest in the event’s long history, with one of the highest ranking cut-offs on the WTA Tour in the past 12 months.

Meanwhile, US Open 2014 finalist Kei Nishikori (JPN) will join 25th-rankedGilles Muller (LUX), who will attempt to defend his Sydney International crown. World No.27 Fabio Fognini (ITA), Spanish fan favourites Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco have also confirmed they’ll contest the ATP 250 event, which has a direct entry cut-off of No.54.

Sydney International Tournament Director and Tennis NSW CEO Lawrence Robertson said Sydney fans were in for an exciting week of tennis.

“The women’s field is second-to-none this year with a record number of Grand Slam winners competing,” Robertson said.

“Add to that the fact that players like Kiki Mladenovic, Ashleigh Barty and Julia Goerges have also committed means we have 11 of the world’s top 20 women heading Sydneyside in January.

“On the men’s side, we know Kei Nishikori is a hugely popular figure in Australia, as are Feliciano Lopez, Fabio Fognini and Fernando Verdasco, whilst Gilles Muller built quite a local following for himself in winning the title here in January, so there’s so much for fans to look forward to on the men’s side of the draw as well.

“With the level of Grand Slam pedigree on display, we’re anticipating some closely fought contests and we looking forward to welcoming tennis fans from across the world to Sydney.” 

The official field for the Sydney International 2018 is:

Women (includes world rankings)

Venus Williams (USA) – No.5

Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) – No.7

Johanna Konta (GBR) – No.9

Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) – No.11

Sloane Stephens (USA) – No.13

Julia Goerges (GER) – No.14

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) – No.15

Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) – No.16

Ashleigh Barty (AUS) – No.17

Elena Vesnina (RUS) – No.18

Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) – No.20

Angelique Kerber (GER) – No.21

Barbora Strycova (CZE) – No.23

Daria Kasatkina (RUS) – No.24

Daria Gavrilova (AUS) – No.25

Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) – No.26

Shuai Peng (CHN) – No.27

Agnieszka Radwanksa (POL) – No.28

Petra Kvitova (CZE) – No.29

Lucie Safarova (CZE) – No.30

Kiki Bertens (NED) – No.31

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) – No.32

 

Men (includes world rankings)

Kei Nishikori (JPN) – No.22

Albert Vinolas-Ramos (ESP) – No.23

Giles Muller (FRA) – No.25

Diego Schwartzman (ARG) – No.26

Fabio Fognini (ITA) – No.27

Adrian Mannarino (FRA) – No.28

Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) – No.29

Damir Dzumhur (BIH) – No.30

Mischa Zverev (GER) – No.33

Filip Krajinovic (SRB) – No.34

Fernando Verdasco (ESP) – No.35

Feliciano Lopez (ESP) – No.36

Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) – No.38

Benoit Paire (FRA) – No.41

Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) – No.43

Aljaz Bedene (GBR) – No.49

Leonardo Mayer (ARG) – No.52

Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) – No.53

Jared Donaldson (USA) – No.54

All rankings as at 1 December 2017 

With some of the world’s top players on show, the Sydney International is giving fans even more flexibility to enjoy the tennis with the introduction of the Flexi Pass. 

Perfect for the tennis enthusiast who wants to be spoilt for choice, the Flexi Pass enables spectators to tailor their Sydney International experience by choosing to attend any three sessions from Sunday January 7 to Friday January 12. Better still, up to four children aged under 14 years can attend the Sydney International when accompanied by a paying adult giving families the chance to enjoy the tournament their way. 

Initiatives for Sydney International 2018 include:

·        Free entry for kids under-14 with any paying adult for all sessions (excluding finals night)

·        First-ever blockbuster Saturday night finals for both the men and women, providing a star-studded line-up for fans and a showcase of international tennis

·        $30 Three-Day Flexi Pass – a three-day ticket that enables fans to attend any three day sessions for just $30. The Flexi Pass can be shared with friends and family.

Multi and single session tickets are now on sale via Ticketek