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Barty, Millman into Open

Barty, Millman into Open
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

Australian teenager Ashleigh Barty and fellow Queenslander John Millman have been granted wildcards for the Australian Open.

Barty will compete in the main draw for the second straight year after being knocked out in the first round in 2012.

The talented Ipswich-born 16-year-old, who is currently preparing for the first grand slam of the year at the Hopman Cup, started last year ranked 669 in the world but has moved up to 175.

"I'm very excited to play in the Australian Open for the second time now," Barty said.

"Hopefully I can bring out some of the tennis I've been producing here at the Hopman Cup so far."

Barty, who is coached by Jason Stoltenberg and Jim Joyce, impressed in her clash against Andrea Petkovic in Perth on Saturday.

While Barty overcame Petkovic after the German retired with an injury, Millman has stormed into the main draw of his home event – the Brisbane International – through qualifying.

The 23-year-old was too good for Luke Saville, Alex Bogomolov Jr and Donald Young to set up a first-round encounter against Tatsuma Ito.

Millman believes rising from 541 to 199 in the rankings in 2012 was the reason he received the wildcard.

"I am really happy," Millman said. "The last 12 months have been really good for me to play so many matches."

"I would like to think that my results in the last 12 months made a pretty good case for this and that is what has been rewarded."

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