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Five-times finalist Andy Murray and Aussie fan favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis have both received wildcards into the Australian Open men's main draw.
Fan favourites Andy Murray and Thanasi Kokkinakis are among the latest tennis stars awarded wildcards into the rescheduled Australian Open.
Former world No.1 Murray, a five-times Melbourne Park finalist, has slipped to 122nd in the rankings after several years battling hip injuries.
The Brit even made a teary retirement announcement in Melbourne two years ago before undergoing a second round of surgery to save his career.
"We welcome Andy back to Melbourne with open arms," Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said.
"As a five-time finalist he has been an integral part of so many amazing matches and storylines in the recent history of the Australian Open.
"His retirement was an emotional moment and seeing him come back, having undergone major surgery and build himself back up to get onto the tour again, will be a highlight of AO 2021."
Kokkinakis has endured his own injury struggles, too many to mention, and hasn't played a tour match since the 2019 US Open.
But the one-time world No.69 and Australian Davis Cup star did win a pair of UTR Pro Tennis Series events at Melbourne Park last month, a sign he is finding form at just the right time.
Kokkinakis missed the 2020 Open due to glandular fever, having finally regained full fitness in the lead-up.
"I'm super happy and thankful to have gotten a wildcard into the AO," Kokkinakis said.
"Shattered I couldn't play this year due to illness but I'm feeling great now and can't wait to get out in front of the home crowd and have some fun."
Other wildcard recipients revealed on Sunday night include Alex Bolt and Aleksandar Vukic.
Bolt, who stretched eventual finalist Dominic Thiem to five sets in the second round at this year's Open, reached the Launceston Challenger final a month before professional tennis was suspended due to COVID-19.
Vukic, a Monterrey Challenger finalist in early March, was impressive when tennis resumed in August, winning nine of his 14 matches including three to qualify for the French Open main draw.
Fellow Australians Destanee Aiava and Arina Rodionova gained wildcards into the women's 128-strong draw.
Indian Sumit Nagal and China's Wang Xiyu were awarded the wildcards of Asia-Pacific for the men's and women's main draw respectively.
Tennis Australia also handed some of Australia's brightest young talents entry to the men's and women's Open qualifying events.
MEN'S MAIN DRAW WILDCARDS
Christopher O'Connell (AUS)
Marc Polmans (AUS)
Alex Bolt (AUS)
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)
Aleksandar Vukic
Andy Murray (GBR)
Sumit Nagal (IND)
one TBD
WOMEN'S MAIN DRAW WILDCARDS
Daria Gavrilova (AUS)
Astra Sharma (AUS)
Maddison Inglis (AUS)
Lizette Cabrera (AUS)
Arina Rodionova (AUS)
Destanee Aiava (AUS)
Wang Xiyu (CHN)
one TBD
MEN'S QUALIFYING WILDCARDS, JANUARY 10-13, DOHA
Tristan Schoolkate (AUS)
Jason Kubler (AUS)
Akira Santillan (AUS)
Rinky Hijikata (AUS)
Dane Sweeny (AUS)
Max Purcell (AUS)
Blake Mott (AUS)
Harold Mayot (FRA)
WOMEN'S QUALIFYING WILDCARDS, JAN 10-13, DUBAI
Abbie Myers (AUS)
Seone Mendez (AUS)
Storm Sanders (AUS)
Ivana Popovic (AUS)
Olivia Gadecki (AUS)
Charlotte Kempenaers-Pocz (AUS)
Alexandra Bozovic (AUS)
Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva (AND)
