Matt Ebden will this afternoon be confirmed by Tennis Australia as a recipient of a wildcard for direct entry in to next month’s Australian Open at Melbourne Park.
Ebden has enjoyed a consistent season throughout 2010 in a year that has seen him reach a career high ranking of 162 in the world, establish himself in the Australian Davis Cup squad and also qualify for his first Grand Slam main draw appearance at the Australian Open.
At the Australian Open Wildcard Playoff event prior to Christmas, Ebden lost a tight semi-final in a deciding third set tiebreak to Australian #2 Peter Luczak, with Luczak having to save off four match points to defeat his younger opponent.
While the wildcard now gives the West Australian finality as to the tournaments he will play throughout January, he is taking nothing for granted and is looking forward to a strong showing throughout the Australian summer.
“It’s a massive honour and achievement in itself to receive the wildcard, and to be recognised and to be believed in by people who have been at the top of the game is something quite special,” Ebden said.
“But quite honestly, my mind set sort of clicks straight over to thinking, ‘Alright, well I’ve been given a start, now I have to go on with it’.”
Ebden will kick-start his 2011 season at the Brisbane International, the same tournament where he qualified for the main draw in 2010 and went on to defeat Austrian Jurgen Melzer, a player who went on to end the year at world No. 11.
He will use his improvement and experience from 2010 to set his sights on a bigger 2011 season.
“For me 2011 starts this week with Brisbane and to be honest, for me, the goal at these tournaments is to win them and that’s what I’ve been working on with my coach,” he said.
“That’s where Australians want to see their players in these tournaments, they want to see them winning, they don’t want to see them just in the first round.
“Come Australian Open time, with a wildcard I’ll be fresh going in there, then you’ve got it all to play for and if I can put my best on the park, round after round, I’m confident I can match it and beat many of the guys who will be in the draw.
“It’s just about getting out there and doing it.
“So I think I’m ready for it, I’m ready to get stuck in there and show my true potential.”