Open announces wildcard playoff

Chinese players have a new way to earn a spot in the Australian Open.

The inaugural Asia-Pacific wildcard playoff for the Grand Slam event is set for Nanjing in October as the region's top players will have a chance to win their way in.

The tournament also has a new exchange program with the China Open that will see six Chinese ball-boys and ball-girls displaying their skills on court at the Australian Open.

In addition, the Australian Open's international trophy tour will get underway in October in Japan and China.

The moves were announced on Monday in Beijing by Ted Baillieu, the Premier of Victoria, who was joined by Grand Slam champion and 2011 Australian Open finalist Li Na, Tennis Australia CEO Steve Wood and Crown CEO Greg Hawkins.

"Melbourne boasts a world-class events calendar and the Australian Open, Grand Slam of Asia-Pacific, is one of Victoria's, and indeed Australia's, most successful events and attracts thousands of visitors from Asia each year," Baillieu said. "The success of China's home-grown champion, Li Na, continues to build interest and excitement for both the sport and the tournament.

"We are very pleased to have Grand Slam champion Li with us here. We look forward to seeing Li in Melbourne in January and wish her all the very best for Australian Open 2013."

Wood outlined the importance of the Asia-Pacific region to the Australian Open.

"The Chinese ball-kid exchange program, the Asia-Pacific wildcard playoff and the Australian Open international trophy tour are all just part of our ongoing mission to promote and develop the sport of tennis in China and the Asia-Pacific region. We are also working closely with the China Tennis Association and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank them for their assistance with the delivery of the wildcard playoff tournament in Nanjing.

"There has been a 400 percent increase in visitation to the Australian Open from the Asia Pacific region over the past eight years, and in 2012, the Australian Open's official ticketing agents and tour operators saw a 30 percent increase in ticket sales from the previous year.

"More than half the Australian Open's global media value is now generated from the Asia-Pacific region, and new broadcast deals include access to an additional 65 million homes.

"And when Li made her historic run to the final in 2011 we achieved the highest ever broadcast exposure throughout Asia, and China in particular, with 135 million tuning in across the region."

chenxiangfeng@chinadaily.com.cn