Istomin, Kumkhum win Aust Open wildcards

Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin and Luksika Kumkhum of Thailand have been awarded wildcards into the main draw of next month's Australian Open.

World No.121 Istomin beat Korea's Duckhee Lee in the Asia-Pacific wildcard playoff tournament final, while 23-year-old Kumkhum, ranked 177 in the world, defeated Kai-Chen Chang of Chinese Taipei.

Istomin has contested the main draw of the Australian Open for the past nine years, making the third round in 2010 and 2014.

Kumkhum will compete in the main draw in Melbourne for the third time, with her biggest scalp being in 2014 when she knocked off No.6 seed Petra Kvitova in the first round.

The Australian Open begins on January 16.