Wildcard winners Thanasi Kokkinakis, Rinky Hijikata and Maya Joint increased Australia’s presence in the Brisbane international field to nine.
December 20, 2024, Brisbane, Australia | Tennis.com.au
Thanasi Kokkinakis, Rinky Hijikata and Maya Joint have expanded their local squad to nine in the 2025 Brisbane International main draw after securing wildcards on Friday.
In his first official event since helping lead Australia to the Davis Cup semi-finals in November (including a feat of saving a match point against America’s Ben Shelton), Kokkinakis will take his place at the Queensland Tennis Center for the fifth time.
Earlier last month, the world number 77 denied Hijikata his first Sydney Challenger title on Australian soil.
> Read more: Walton, Birrell secure Brisbane International wildcard
This was the opposite result from when the two faced each other in the opening match held at Brisbane International’s Pat Rafter Arena in January.
Hijikata, ranked 73rd in the world, advanced to the last eight of the event, one of five tour-level quarterfinals this season, including the ATP 500 event on the Queen’s Club lawn.
“Obviously I have great memories of Brisbane earlier in the year and we got to the quarter-finals there, so I think it was a great way to start the year and set us up for a good season.” Hijikata said.
“Hopefully we can repeat that this year or go further. Yes, I’m looking forward to it and it’s always nice to play at home…
“The Brisbane International always attracts a lot of participants and I am sure this year will be the same. “I pick up the racket and play because I want to test myself against the best players in the world.”
Rinky Hijikata and Maya joints at Pat Rafter Arena. Photo: Tennis Queensland
Joint, Australia’s fourth-ranked woman and world number 116, makes her Brisbane debut after a breakout season that saw her reach the second round of the US Open at 18 and be named joint female junior player of the year. At this month’s Australian Tennis Awards.
“I think it’s really important to start the year off strong because it’s our first time playing. I’m really looking forward to playing in front of my home crowd,” Joint said.
“I want to play Sabalenka. I want to test my level and see how it matches up. I think it would be really cool to play someone who meets those standards.”
Kokkinakis and Hijikata, along with Adam Walton, will participate in the event along with compatriots Nick Kyrios, Alexei Popyrin and Jordan Thompson, who will be competing at the 24th Grand Slam. Champion Novak Djokovic, defending champion Grigor Dimitrov (No.10), Holger Rune (Holger Rune) appears. (No. 13), Francis Tiafoe (No. 18), Matteo Berrettini (No. 34).
Joint joins fellow wildcard winners Kimberly Birrell and Ajla Tomljanovic in the Women’s WTA 500 event. The event features four top 10 players, including World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula (No. 7), Emma Navarro (No. 8) and Daria. Kasatkina (No. 9).
The Brisbane International takes place at the Queensland Tennis Center from December 29 to January 5.
Qualifying rounds begin on Friday 27 December and the main draw begins on Sunday 29 December.
Brisbane international tickets are sold through: ticketmaster.
Find out how to play: visit play.tennis.com.au Get out on the court and have fun!
