Seven - AO Tennis 2011 media kit - Seven West Media

NICOLE BRADTKE
COMMENTATOR
- AUSTRALIAN OPEN
As a veteran on the Australian women’s tennis scene, Nicole is always effusive
about the tennis stories that come out of the Australian Open.
“As the first Grand Slam of the year and the heat, you always get an unknown
player who bursts on to the scene as a new star on the horizon at the Aussie
Open”, says Nicole.
She is hoping for some local success in this year’s tournament.
“I can see Kim Clijsters meeting our own Sam Stosur in the women’s final. Sam
will be well prepared, having played lead-up tournaments in Brisbane and
Sydney, while many of the other women will be playing in Hong Kong and may
be under prepared and find it difficult to adjust to our weather,”
After successfully predicting Roger Federer to win last year’s men’s title, Nicole
says Rafael Nadal will beat Andy Murray in this year’s final.
Nicole hit her first ball at the age of five and started playing professionally at 15.
She won three singles and nine doubles titles with career highlights including a
semi-final appearance at the 1988 French Open and a bronze medal with Rachel
McQuillan at the 1992 Olympics. She also won two mixed-doubles Grand Slams
with Mark Woodforde – the 1992 US Open and 1993 Australian Open.
Bradtke reached the top 30 in early 1989, before making further fourth rounds at
the 1989 Australian Open and the 1990 French Open and winning her first title at
home in Brisbane in 1992.
She won her second tour title in Kuala Lumpur in 1993 and reached the fourth
round of the Australian Open. She also earned her biggest career victory during
that year, beating World No. 1 Steffi Graf in a Fed Cup tie. Bradtke later helped
Australia to reach the final, where they lost to the Spanish team.
Nicole represented Australia in the Federation Cup for eight years from ‘88 to ‘95,
when she took over as coach. Since retiring, Nicole has coached some of
Australia’s most promising female players, including Alicia Molik and Sam Stosur.