Among them, French duo Yvonnick L’Hurriec and Vincent Stouff will play for the men’s singles and doubles titles before heading to Melbourne to support their training partner and friend Jo Wilfried Tsonga at the Australian Open. 

The pair have hopped across the country competing in money tournaments and played off for the Quest Bendigo Championships men’s singles title last week, Stouff emerged victorious.

Stouff said he was in the country to match up to Australian competition and improve his English.

“I came here to watch the Australian Open and hit with some players. I wanted to see the atmosphere during the three weeks of the Australian Open to compare with the French Open,” Stouff said.

L’Hurriec said his Australian tour was a result of his curiosity about the tennis culture in 

Australia.

“It’s a start of a big project to see what’s happening in tennis around the world because I want to travel and return to France and make a connection between my experiences,” L’Hurriec  said.

“I am a friend of Jo Wilfried Tsonga and I will support him during the Australian Open. When I was young I played with him.”

The pair will play in the men’s singles main draw at 10am and in the men’s doubles at 3.30pm against qualified 

opponents.