Rising star nets Open berth

DANDENONG North resident Marinko Matosevic last week capped a breakthrough year by clinching a berth in the Australian Open singles draw.
Matosevic, 25, took five sets to account for Aussie Davis Cup player Peter Luczak in Sunday’s wildcard play-off final, winning 6-1 1-6 6-3 4-6 6-4 to secure his second appearance in a Grand Slam event.
The Bosnian-born baseliner made a first-round exit in the 2010 Australian Open, but has had a career year on the Challenger Tour.
He won two tournaments – Aptos and Calabasas Challenger events – in the US this season and, after qualifying for the top-tier Masters 1000 event at Indian Wells, defeated current world number 23 Michael Llodra.
Matosevic’s world ranking peaked at 134 last month, making him Australia’s second-ranked male behind Lleyton Hewitt. Luczak has since reclaimed that title.
The fiery competitor told the Tennis Australia website that he had learnt from his 2010 Australian Open experience and would be a better player this summer.
“It was a learning experience, but I definitely could have won that match,” he said of his four-set loss to Swiss Mario Chiudinelli.
“I’ll know how to play a best-of-five and I’ll know how to pace myself and not be as nervous.”
Matosevic said he is confident of continuing his rise up the rankings in 2011.
“I’ve got no points to defend for the first couple of months, so that’s the plan, to have a good Aussie summer and hopefully that’ll skyrocket me into the top 100.”