The Australian Open is nearing as players start to turn their focus to the highly anticipated Grand Slam.
With 100 men and women already placed within the main draw, there are some who have been awarded with wildcards for the tournament, including six Australians.
Alexei Popyrin, Jason Kubler, Rinky Hijikata, Storm Hunter, Talia Gibson and Olivia Gadecki will compete at Australian Open 2023.
Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams has also been awarded a wildcard, while fellow Americans Ben Shelton and Caty McNally will feature in January as well.
There is still some spots available that will be filled in the coming weeks leading up into the Australian Open.
When is the Australian Open?
The Australian Open begins Monday, January 16 and ends Sunday, January 29.
What is a wildcard player?
A wildcard is a player whose world ranking is not high enough to qualify automatically for the Australian Open, however they are accepted into the main draw at the discretion of a selection panel.
How many wildcards can there be?
There are eight men’s and women’s singles wildcards awarded each year.
Men’s wildcards
There are eight men’s and women’s singles wildcards awarded each year.
| Country | Name | Age |
| Australian | Alexei Popyrin | 23 |
| Australian | Jason Kubler | 29 |
| Australian | Rinky Hijikata | 21 |
| American | Ben Shelton | 20 |
Women’s wildcards
| Country | Name | Age |
| Australian | Storm Hunter | 28 |
| Australian | Talia Gibson | 18 |
| Australian | Olivia Gadecki | 20 |
| American | Venus Williams | 42 |
| American | Caty McNally | 21 |
AU/US/French reciprocal wildcard arrangement
There are eight men’s and women’s singles wildcards awarded each yeah.
The Australian Open Wildcard Play-off provides Australia’s best players an opportunity to win a spot into the main draw.
Tennis Australia also has a reciprocal arrangement with the French Tennis Federation and USTA, offering exchanges in French Open and US Open wildcards.
Credit: sportingnews.com