INQUIRER Sports

SYDNEY -- Organizers on Thursday granted wildcards to six players from Asia, France and the United States into the main draw of this month's Australian Open in Melbourne.

The wildcards are awarded under exchange agreements with the United States Tennis Association, French Tennis Federation and the Asian Tennis Federation.

Denis Istomin from Uzbekistan and China's Yuan Meng received wildcards into the January 19-February 1 grand slam as the two highest-ranked Asian players not yet in the Open's main draw.

It will be Istomin’s second appearance at the Australian Open after he won an epic four-set match against Lukas Lacko and went on to push Lleyton Hewitt to four sets before losing in last year's second round.

Yuan, currently ranked 127, will have an easier passage into this year's tournament after she had to battle through qualifying to reach the first round where she ousted Russian Ekaterina Ivanova before falling to Serena Williams at the next stage.

The French-nominated wildcards went to Adrian Mannarino and Kristina Mladenovic.

Mannarino has risen nearly 200 ranking points in the past 12 months and is currently ranked 129, while 15-year-old Mladenovic achieved some impressive results on last year's junior circuit.

John Isner and Christina McHale earned their place in the main draw after winning the USTA wildcard tournament in Florida in late December.