[aussie_fan]

At the moment it clearly goes to MM, his ranking is too close to the cut off not to give to him and Duckworth hasn't quite been getting the results since AO. Duckworth needs a couple of good challenger results to have any chance.

[RustyOz]

Originally Posted by aussie_fan

At the moment it clearly goes to MM, his ranking is too close to the cut off not to give to him and Duckworth hasn't quite been getting the results since AO. Duckworth needs a couple of good challenger results to have any chance.

And...
the pressure starts to mount for Duckie,
who lost a close 3 set match to qualifier Trungelliti 57 64 46

Got to feel for him.

[Audacity]

Matosevic.

[aussie_fan]

Both lost this morning in matches you would think they win. A little concerning...

[J99]

It's close between Mato and Duckie, Mato is more proven, but Duckie is better on clay, it could go either way.

[Consigliere]

either bloody way?!?! if they give it to mm me will kick a puppy.

[aussie_fan]

Originally Posted by Consigliere

either bloody way?!?! if they give it to mm me will kick a puppy.

The guy is just outside the cutoff, the wildcard can really only be justified for MM.

[Chris.]

Originally Posted by aussie_fan

The guy is just outside the cutoff, the wildcard can really only be justified for MM.

He has won one challenger match on clay.

[aussie_fan]

Originally Posted by herbal

He has won one challenger match on clay.

Considering he has played most of his career in challengers in the US, that's reasonably understandable. Of course, he won't have many wins because he ain't playing on the stuff. While his record is fairly poor on the stuff, it's not like Duckworth's is outstanding, especially this season, I really thought he would be getting this WC after his performance at the Australian summer but he hasn't kicked on at all, pretty poor record at clay challenegrs himself this season. If he had a few more wins in the challengers then he would be given a shot but when you have no viable guy on form on the red dirt, you have to go with who has the best season overall and who is closest to the cutoff, that's Marinko. I would be evry surprised if TA picked anyone else, especially since Marinko ahs travelled back down here for Davis Cup.

[RustyOz]

Let's face facts. Last year Duckwirth was great on clay at Futures level. Do not kid yourself - Challengers is a step-up. A lot more experienced players, suited to playing on clay courts selected for the surface, new balls earlier with a lot more zip. Duckworth needs to adjust and step-up. He has had some close results so that is promising, and the wins will come, just not yet.
Marinko has the points, the ranking and the experience of bigger events. I'd be surprised if he did not get the nod.

[StatRacket]

This year we are spoilt for choice. Sure MM is ranked right up there, but Australia gets one profound clay court wild card per a year, it just makes sense that they give that wild card to someone who likes clay. MM can, and does, take advantage of our hard court WCs. I would be fine with him getting the US Open one for instance.

The last three years the wild cards have gone to Tomic, Ball and Tomic respectively. I fear that once again the WC will go to another hard courter, when now we finally have players with solid results on clay who deserve a shot.

[Filo V.]

Well I like to give my two cents as a non-Aussie on Aussie WC decisions so if you all wouldn't mind me doing so here, I think MM is definitely going to get the WC unless he gets it snatched away from him with a big run of form from Duckworth/Mitchell. I don't see Kubler getting one because he's still doing futures and hasn't proven himself in challenger clay tournaments. Duckworth has been playing a ton on clay, but his results have been pretty mediocre. He's in the QF of Sao Paulo this week, let's see if he can breakout with a great result.

MM has four straight R1 losses. But what he did in Delray Beach and the run of like 15 of 17 wins will be enough to get him the WC based on reputation and name.

[Ausie]

Hewitt will give a wild card from Tennis Australia. But, whether or not to play they will decide later this week.

[Audacity]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spor...-1226356441931

Lleyton Hewitt set for shock return at French Open

LLEYTON Hewitt could be a shock French Open starter after making a another typically-speedy recovery from foot surgery.

Hewitt wasn't expected to return to the court until next month's Wimbledon lead-up event at the Queen's Club after undergoing further repairs in February for his chronic toe injury.

But the never-say-die baseliner is hoping to make his latest comeback at Roland Garros when the claycourt grand slam tournament gets underway on Sunday week.

“He's probably ahead of schedule. There's no doubt about that,” Hewitt's manager David Drysdale said today.

“It was surgery that he had to have, whether he continued to play or not.

“He's got some screws and a plate in there but so far - touch wood - everything's going better than expected.”

Tennis Australia will issue their two French Open wildcards tomorrow and Hewitt would almost certainly be awarded the men's one if he put his hand up.


“I think we'd be interested but we probably won't know if he can definitely play until the end of the week,” Drysdale said.

Any court time in Paris would be a bonus for Hewitt, whose priority this year has always been Wimbledon and the “Wimbledon” Olympics on London's hallowed lawns at the All England Club in July.

Despite the 31-year-old's ranking languishing at No.178 in the world and his greatest successes having come on grass and hard courts, Hewitt retains one special record at the French Open.

The dual grand slam champion is the only active player on the ATP Tour - Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal included - to have reached at least the third round in Paris in 10 consecutive campaigns.

But should the three-times French Open quarter-finalist run out of time and miss this year's event, Tennis Australia would almost certainly award Marinko Matosevic their men's wildcard.

Matosevic has climbed to a career-high No.92 in the world - but missed direct entry to Roland Garros by one week.

[TennisOnWood]

Damn.. instead of young Duckworth who is doing great job on clay last and this season