Duckworth, Nishioka Win Australian Open Wild Cards

James Duckworth will make a fifth consecutive main draw appearance at the Australian Open after winning the Australian Wildcard Playoff on Sunday. The top seed was the last player standing in the 16-man draw after Benjamin Mitchell withdrew ahead of the final to be with his girlfriend for the birth of their first child.

“It would have been nice to win properly but that’s the way it goes,” Duckworth said. “I managed to get through a couple of tough matches [this week], especially the semifinal against Marinko [Matosevic]. I’d never beaten him before. I didn’t play so well the last four months of the year so to come here and win a few matches, especially some tight ones, some tight tie-breaks, really helps the confidence a lot. Hopefully I can use it as a bit of a springboard and start the year off well and have a good year.”

World No. 120 Duckworth reached the second round at Melbourne Park in 2012, ’13 & ’15, claiming a pair of five-set victories. He cracked the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings for the first time earlier this year, peaking at No. 82, following his first match win at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 level in Indian Wells.

In the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff, top seed Yoshihito Nishioka rallied past Chinese Taipei’s Jason Jung 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the final. The Japanese will make his Australian Open debut, contesting his fourth Grand Slam main draw. One of 10 players under the age of 22 in the Top 150, Nishioka reached his first ATP World Tour quarter-final earlier this year in Delray Beach. The 20 year old also captured his second ATP Challenger Tour title last month in Toyota.

“I’m so excited that I can play main draw in the Australian Open, it will be the first time for me,” said Nishioka. “Entering the Top 100 was actually my goal for this year, but I didn’t make it. Hopefully next year I’m able to be in the Top 70. And I already won a first round match at the US Open this year, so next time I hope I can win a second round at a Grand Slam.”

Duckworth and Nishioka join former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, American teen Noah Rubin and France’s Quentin Halys among wild card recipients.