Making a name for himself not only in Japan but also around the world Kei Nishikori will venture onto Pat Rafter Area for the first time tonight.
Playing tennis since the age of five, Nishikori qualified for his first ATP main draw event in Los Angeles at the age of 17 before moving over 200 ranking spots in the same year to finish as youngest player in year-end top 100. As the first Japanese player to finish in top 100 since Shuzuo Matsuoka was No. 57 in 1995 he is making waves across the circuit.
Meeting Thomas Berdych, who is ranked in the top 20 for the third straight year, expect a close contest when the top Czech Republic player stares across the court tomorrow night in the second session.
Following on from her first appearance on Monday night, crowd favourite and fashionista Ana Ivanovic returns for her second appearance to take on Roberta Vinci from Italy in the first night match.
Another seeded woman, former Australian Open winner, Amelie Mauresmo will also lead the woman’s charge meeting Julie Coin in an all French show down. Both girls will be fighting for the chance to progress to the quarter finals in the first ever Brisbane International.
Latvia’s Enersts Gulbis returns today after he caused the upset of the tournament, beating No.1 seed Novak Djokovic in straight sets yesterday.
The 53rd ranked Gulbis takes on Paul-Henri Mathieu from France.
In the Final match of the day Jo-Wilfried Tsonga returns after a convincing win last night against Agustin Calleri. Today he meets Jarkko Nieminen, the six foot one left-lander from Finland who knocked out Marcos Bagdatis in the first round.
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