TWO new pro tour champions are set to be crowned when the Mildura International Tennis event returns to the region next weekend.
Qualifying will take place on March 9 and 10, before the main draw begins on Tuesday, March 11.
Acceptances have now been made for both the men’s and women’s singles events, however final draws are still to be confirmed in the next week.
Neither of the defending champions Maddison Inglis or Alex Bolt will return to the Mildura Lawn Tennis Club centre for the ITF tour event, which was staged in 2024 after a three-year hiatus due to combination of lockdown laws and flooding.
In the women’s draw, Lizette Cabrera, a regular feature at the Mildura event, is currently the highest ranked player via the WTA at number 287, with Jamie Fourliss next best at 331.
Cabrera, 27, who had a highest singles ranking on 119 in 2020, has been solid, with her best recent performance being a final loss to Daria Saville at Carrara in December.
Fourliss has some strong recent form under her belt with semi-final appearances in December’s ITF W35 Tauranga tournament in New Zealand, as well as the Burnie International in Tasmania last week.
Third in the rankings is rising Aussie Elena Micic, with the 20-year-old at her current best world ranking of 364 and chasing a first title.
She impressed in Qualifying for the Australian Open, making it to the third round before just missing Wildcard entry.
Reigning Mildura women’s champion Inglis and emerging young star Emerson Jones were both on the withdrawal list.
It’s an Australian heavy field of acceptances in the men’s event, with Omar Jasika the current highest ranked player at 228.
Runner-up in the 2020 event, Japan’s Rio Noguchi is ranked second, Aussie Blake Ellis third and experienced American Christian Langmo fourth.
Lango has the most recent success of those four by winning the Timaru International in New Zealand earlier this month, however Aussie veteran Jason Kubler, who also returns to Mildura, won the Burnie International at the same time.
New Zealand’s number two ranked mens player Ajeet Rai and Northern Mariana Islands player Colin Sinclair are also in the top 10.
A number of younger players will take on qualifying including Cade Birrell, brother of fellow tennis player Kimberly, 17-year-old Duje Markovina and 20-year-old Charlie Pade.
Defending Mildura champion Bolt will not compete while fellow finalist Luke Saville has since retired.
Action will begin on Sunday, March 9 with qualifying at the Hugh King Drive facility.
