Fact sheet

New programs by the Australian open to enhance its relationship with China

*Australian Open Asia-Pacific wildcard playoff

Dates: Oct 15-21

Venue: National Tennis Academy of China, Nanjing Sport Institute

Both the male and female winners will be awarded a wildcard into the main draw of the Australian Open. Both winners will receive complimentary accommodation from Crown Melbourne.

*Australian Open international trophy tour

Dates: Oct 2-21

The Australian Open trophies - the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup and the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup - first toured internationally in 2011, when they visited Beijing, Shanghai and Li Na's home town of Wuhan. This year, the tour begins in Japan before returning to China.

Oct 2-4 Tokyo

Oct 6-7 Beijing

Oct 9-11 Fuzhou

Oct 13-15 Nanjing

Oct 17-18 Shanghai

Oct 19-21 Beijing

*Australian Open Chinese ball-kid exchange program

Dates: China Open - Sept 23 - Oct 7 Australian Open - Jan 14-27

Tennis Australia is involved in the training of ball-kids and ball-kid coordinators at the China Open as part of our ongoing promotion of tennis in the region.

The program will see six Chinese children selected to work at the Australian Open. They will join the 380-strong Australian Open squad and work on court with the world's top players during the Grand Slam event.