Dellacqua Locks Up Australian Open Wild Card Berth
The top-seeded Casey Dellacqua is guaranteed an 11th main draw appearance at the 2014 Australian Open after winning the Australian Open Wild Card Playoff at Melbourne Park, defeating the number three seeded Arina Rodionova in the finals, 5-7, 6-1, 6-0. The tournament is held for Australian players whose rankings wouldn't automatically get them into the main draw of the 2014 Australian Open.
Along the way to her finals victory, Dellacqua had a few bumps, rebounding from a first set blowout to defeat the number six seed Monique Adamczak in the quarterfinals, 0-6, 6-1, 6-2.
"I feel like I deserve to be in the Australian Open, and I'd rather do it this way than to ever expect anything or be guaranteed anything," said Dellacqua. "So, I'm stoked that I won today."
Dellacqua's best season in singles came in 2008, reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open and the third round at two of the other three Grand Slams, and reaching a career high ranking of 39th in the world. Since then she has been better known for her doubles play, having she reached three Grand Slam doubles finals with partner Ashleigh Barty in 2013.
The first Australian Open Wild Card Playoff took place in Shenzhen, China as Tang Hao Chen defeated Japan's Risa Ozaki in the final, 6-3, 6-3, earning a spot in the 2014 Australian Open.
The third Wild Card Playoff will take place this coming weekend in Norcross, Ga., with eight American players in the lineup, including Madison Brengle, Julia Cohen, Victoria Duval, Nicole Gibbs, Grace Min, Shelby Rogers, Maria Sanchez and Sachia Vickery.
