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Australian Open wild cards named
Posted: Thursday December 30, 1999 03:18 PM
MELBOURNE, Australia (Reuters) -- Davis Cup winning doubles specialists Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge were added to the list of Australian Open wild cards on Thursday, with a place being held for the injured Pat Rafter. Tennis Australia said the last of eight wild cards into the men's singles draw was being held for Rafter, Australia's dual U.S. Open winner, who is struggling to recover from shoulder surgery. "Pat is currently in training and we would like to retain the possibility of him competing in the singles event should he find at the last minute he's able to," Australian Open chief executive Paul McNamee said. "The Woodies," who have shared nine grand slam victories since 1992, gave Australia a crucial advantage by winning their doubles tie in the Davis Cup final against France on December 5. Australia went on to take the Davis Cup for the 27th time. Woodbridge and Woodforde are joined as wild cards by Australians James Sekulov and Scott Draper. All four are ranked between 130 and 197 in the world. Previously announced wild cards into the men's draw are Japan's Gouichi Motomura and Australians Dejan Petrovic and Joseph Sirianni. "Our wildcard recipients are a good blend of established players and young hopefuls," Tennis Australia president Geoff Pollard said.
The eighth and final men's wildcard will be announced after a series of warm-up events ahead of the Open, which begins in Melbourne on January 17.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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