Melbourne VIC, Australia, 4 December 2015 | tennis.com.au

The December Showdown will bring together Australia’s top tennis talent for another year, all vying for glory and for a chance to take advantage of even bigger opportunities in January.

The jewel in the crown of the two-week tennis carnival is the Australian Open 2016 Play-off, affording 16 Aussie men and 16 Aussie women the chance to fight it out for a prized main draw wildcard.

> follow the live scores

The Play-off has an illustrious list of former winners including former top 10 stars Jelena Dokic and Alicia Molik as well as former world No.39 Marinko Matosevic.

And Matosevic will this year take his place in a stellar men’s field featuring many of our rapidly-improving stocks of Australian men.

Also expected to compete at Melbourne Park in December are James Duckworth, Luke Saville, two-time reigning Play-off champion Jordan Thompson, resurgent 2012 winner Ben Mitchell and 2014 US Open junior champ Omar Jasika.

The women’s event has a “Gen Next” feel to it, with promising teens littering the draw and positioning themselves for a crack at the biggest tournament of their careers so far.

Among the starters are the much-improved Queensland trio of Kimberly Birrell, Priscilla Hon and Sara Tomic, as well as Destanee Aiava, a member of Australia’s Junior Fed Cup team who recently competed in the World Finals in Madrid.

Also in action will be Olivia Rogowska, Storm Sanders and Jess Moore.

Throughout the fortnight, the nation’s very best juniors will converge on Melbourne Park, fighting to be crowned Australian champions.

Junior events at 18/u, 16/u, 14/u and 12/u level will be contested, as well as teams events for 14/u and 12/u.

Kicking off on Saturday 5 December will be the 18/u and 14/u events – there is a special incentive for the 18-and-under female competitors, with the winner scoring a main draw wildcard at Australian Open 2016.

> see the full list of December Showdown events

Want to follow the action? Watch live streaming of the Australian Open 2016 Play-off, or come down to Melbourne Park and catch the December Showdown for free!

Australian Open 2016 Play-off field

Men

1. James Duckworth (NSW) – No.120
2. Jordan Thompson (NSW) – No.154
3. Luke Saville (SA) – No.187
4. Ben Mitchell (Qld) – No.207
5. Alex Bolt (SA) – No.266
6. Gavin Van Peperzeel (Qld) – No.285
7. Marinko Matosevic (Vic) – No.296
8. Matt Barton (NSW) – No.297
9. Omar Jasika (Vic) – No.308
10. Matt Reid (NSW) – No.313
11. Maverick Banes (Qld) – No.432
12. Harry Bourchier (Tas) – No.503
13. Brad Mousley (SA) – No.558
14. Winner – 18-and-under national championships
* Two additional players TBC

Women

1. Olivia Rogowska (Vic) – No.276
2. Jessica Moore (WA) – No.309
3. Alison Bai (ACT) – No.318
4. Priscilla Hon (Qld) – No.332
5. Kimberly Birrell (Qld) – No.366
6. Storm Sanders (WA) – No.376
7. Sara Tomic (Qld) – No.454
8. Alexandra Nancarrow (ACT) – No.476
9. Olivia Tjandramulia (Qld) – No.485
10. Zoe Hives (Vic) – No.502
11. Naiktha Bains (Qld) – No.611
12. Destanee Aiava (Vic) – No.671
13. Maddison Inglis – No.781
14. Runner-up – 18-and-under national championships
* Two additional players TBC