Brisbane QLD, Australia, 31 December 2015 | AAP

Forget the possibility of securing a discretionary wildcard for the Australian Open – Queenslander Ben Mitchell’s newborn daughter is all he’s playing for at the Brisbane International.

Mitchell forfeited the chance to secure a spot in the Australian Open main draw earlier this month when he opted to attend the birth of his daughter Zara instead of contesting the Australian Open Play-off final against good friend James Duckworth.

It’s a call he doesn’t regret for a second.

“Of course it’s a tough decision, but at the same time it’s the right decision,” Mitchell said.

“It was a lot of money on the line but there’s no price tag when you go and see your own baby born.”

Mitchell will compete in the Brisbane tournament after being given a spot following Thanasi Kokkinakis’s summer-ending shoulder injury.

A good showing at the Queensland Tennis Centre could result in the former Wimbledon junior runner-up being handed one of the discretionary wildcard spots Tennis Australia have available for the opening Grand Slam event of the year at Melbourne Park.

Mitchell says he’s not banking on that path though and will aim to qualify for the tournament if he has to.

But it’s his new daughter which is his main motivation heading into the opening round in Brisbane.

“It’s awesome to have some pretty good things going on on and off the court,” he said.

“I’ll be doing everything I can to impress my little girl Monday or Tuesday.

“The wildcard here shows the last few months how well I’ve been playing. I feel like I do deserve this opportunity.”