Sydney, 21 December 2011 | tennis.com.au

Australia’s No.2 male player Matt Ebden was today awarded the second last wildcard for the Apia International Sydney.

World No.86 Ebden will take his place in the main draw alongside Grand Slam champions Juan Martin Del Potro and Lleyton Hewitt after a strong 2011 season on the ATP World Tour.

The 24 year old said he was looking forward to playing in Sydney again and improving on his first round showing from earlier this year.

“The Apia International Sydney is a top class event and there is always a really strong field,” Ebden said.

“I am really thankful to Tennis Australia and the event organisers for showing such great faith in my abilities and granting me a wildcard.

“I’ve had some great results this year and I am confident that I can produce some of my best tennis there in a few weeks time.

“One of my main goals in the coming year is to win my first title and it would be fantastic to do that in Sydney.”

Tournament Director Craig Watson said that Ebden thoroughly deserved a main draw wildcard after cementing his place in the world’s top 100 this season.

“Matt has produced some outstanding results this year, including a quarter-final appearance in Shanghai which is no easy feat,” Watson said.

“His form this year has shown that he can match it with the world’s best and I’m sure he has another great season ahead of him.

“He is the second Australian male player confirmed in our field, along with Lleyton Hewitt, and I’m sure the crowds in Ken Rosewall Arena will get right behind both of them.”

Ebden began 2011 ranked No.196 but reached a career high ranking of No.79 after the Shanghai Rolex Masters, where he defeated world No. 12 Gilles Simon in the fourth round.

The West Australian also reached the quarter finals in Brisbane in January and in Newport in July.

Ebden was defeated by former finalist Richard Gasquet in the first round in Sydney in 2011.

More main draw men’s and women’s wildcards will be confirmed and announced in the lead up to the start of the event on Sunday 8 January.

Tickets to the Apia International Sydney 2012 are on sale through Ticketek and can be purchased online at www.ticketek.com.au or 1300 888 104.

The Apia International Sydney will be held at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre from Sunday 8 to Saturday 14 January 2012.