Chinese hopefuls set to serve for Australian Open

Chinese tennis players are vying for wild card entries to the Australian Open.

Doors to the first Grand Slam event of 2014 have swung open as the Australian Open Asia Pacific Wildcard Play-off (AWP) gets underway again in China.

A total of 28 promising players from across the Asia-Pacific region will square off against each other in qualifying rounds to gain Open places. Competition begins at the Luohu Tennis Club in Shenzhen, Guangdong province on Wednesday.

China’s top male players Zhang Ze and Wu Di and budding female stars like Zheng Saisai and Zhou Yimiao will lead the Chinese pursuit for wild card entries.

Wu and teenager player Zhang Yuxuan made the main draw at the Open this year after winning their respective wild cards in Nanjiang in December. Wu also became the first Chinese man to ever play in a Grand Slam proper.

Live scoring is available throughout the event by clicking http://tournaments.tennis.com.au/sport/tournament. Entry for spectators is free throughout qualifying matches.

For the first time, the Australian Open Junior Wildcard Play-off will also take place during the tournament offering a male and female singles player under the age of 18 the chance to gain direct entry into the Australian Open Junior Championships. The junior event will commence on Thursday.

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn