Jo-Wilfried Tsonga confirms his participation at next year’s Apia International Sydney – Tennis News
French number one, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, will return to Sydney to take part in next year’s ATP World Tour 250 event there. The Australian Open series hard court event will take place from January 6 to 12.
APIA International Sydney serves as the perfect event for players to get ready for the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open. Tsonga made his debut at this event in 2008 and then played again in the subsequent year
but did not feature here after that.
Tsonga was beaten by the then world number 47, Andreas Seppi of Italy, in the first round of the APIA International Sydney in 2008 but he went on to reach the title match at the Australian Open. The French player stunned three
top 10 players, Andy Murray; Rafael Nadal; and Richard Gasquet, on the road to the final but lost to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic at the last stage.
Announcing his confirmation to participate in the 2013 APIA Sydney International, Tsonga said, “I always enjoy my time there. Right after [Sydney] in 2008 I played the final at the Australian Open.”
The French star entered the 2009 event with a ranking of number six in the world but he could manage to win only one match. The right-hander received a bye in the first round, defeated Simone Bolelli in the second but was upset
by Jarkko Nieminen of Finland in the quarter-finals.
Tsonga stayed away from the event from 2010 to 2012 but the 27-year-old will make his return to the event next year with a hope to win the title and prepare in the best possible manner for the Australian Open.
The Frenchman added, “For me it’s very important to prepare well for the Australian Open. Playing the Sydney event provides great preparation.”
Apia International Sydney’s Tournament Director,
Craig Watson, was happy on inclusion of Tsonga in the list of the top players, who will participate at next year’s event.
Watson said, “Tsonga is one of the global superstars of men’s tennis and we are thrilled that Sydney tennis fans will get the chance to see him play this January.”
He added, “I also expect other top male players will follow Tsonga’s lead and choose the Sydney event as the best way to fine tune their Australian Open preparations.”
Tsonga has already confirmed that he will participate at the Hopman Cup, which will take place in Perth from December 29, 2012 to January 5, 2013.
Tags: