The #ApiaInternationalSydney will host one of its strongest fields in history — with eight top-10 players and seven Grand Slam champions set to be in action. The cut-off ranking is listed at 28, meaning that even the players who are seeded 28th to 32nd at the Australian Open will not even manage to earn a direct entry to the main draw.
Top-10 players lead the entry list
World number one #SimonaHalep will begin her new season in Sydney after opting to skip the first week of action in the new year. The Romanian ended 2018 with a poor three-match losing streak due to a back injury, overshadowing her otherwise brilliant season. Nonetheless, she will prepare for the Australian Open, where she is the defending finalist, by competing in Sydney where the field is tightly-packed which offers her the opportunity to grab some confidence-boosting wins.
Defending champion #AngeliqueKerber will look to defend title amidst the tight-packed field. This year, she went all the way despite being an unseeded player but she will receive a bye as the second seed next year, which should aid her in her cause if she receives a favourable draw. Kerber has a fantastic record in Sydney, posing an overall 18-5 win-loss record in the tournament throughout her career.
#NaomiOsaka was one of the first few names announced for the tournament, and the US Open champion will make her debut in this highly-competitive tournament as the third seed. Osaka is joined by #SloaneStephens, who failed to claim a match win in her past appearance. The American fell in straight sets to Camila Giorgi in the first round this year.
Former champion #PetraKvitova took a top-20 wildcard into the event after failing to sign up in time for the tournament. The Czech has claimed some success here previously, though she struggled this year after being overpowered by Giorgi in the second round. Kvitova’s opponent in the 2015 final, #KarolinaPliskova, will also return to join the field. The big-serving Czech’s breakthrough 2015 season started with a finalist appearance in Sydney and she looks to replicate her success again.
Two other players will also return to Sydney, but will compete here as a top-10 player for the first time in their careers. #KikiBertens reached the second round this year, being conquered by top seed Muguruza, and she narrowly entered the main draw with a ranking of 32. #DariaKasatkina was a quarterfinalist in 2017 when she upset top-ranked Kerber for the biggest win in her career although she was shocked by Barbora Strycova in the first round this year. Bertens and Kasatkina are the seventh and eighth seed respectively.
Hard-hitters look to dominate Sydney
This year’s top seed #GarbineMuguruza returns in 2019 as an unseeded player, and looks to bring some serious challenge to the top seeds. The Spaniard is currently ranked 18th and was forced to withdraw from the quarterfinals due to a right thigh injury. She is also a two-time quarterfinalist in the past.
Having quite a significant amount of success here in Sydney previously, #DominikaCibulkova returns hoping to go one step further. Being a former Australian Open finalist and a top-10 player, the Slovakian also reached the final here back in 2013 and is a four-time quarterfinalist. She lost to Angelique Kerber in the last eight this year.
This year’s semifinalist #CamilaGiorgi managed to receive a direct entry into the main draw after having to qualify for the event this year. The Italian defeated both Sloane Stephens and Petra Kvitova en route to a terrific run which ended in the hands of Angelique Kerber.
Other hard-hitting players in action include former Roland Garros champion #JelenaOstapenko, who was defeated by Ekaterina Makarova in the opening round during her debut this year. #AnettKontaveit will make her debut in the main draw after retiring during the qualifying rounds this year, while #EliseMertens have opted not to defend her title in Hobart and instead make her debut in Sydney. #ArynaSabalenka, one of the players to watch for in 2019, will be a huge threat to the seeded players due to her well-known explosive power as she makes her debut as well.
Other notable players in action
Home favourite #AshleighBarty is the only Australian to receive a direct entry into the main draw. On her Sydney debut just 11 months ago, Barty stormed to the final with ease but was unable to complete her Cinderella run as she came off second-best against Kerber. She is defending finalist points here hence she would need to grab some good wins despite being unseeded in the draw.
Two-time quarterfinalist #CarlaSuarezNavarro will return to Sydney although she had lost her last three matches here, including a first-round qualifying match against Kristie Ahn this year. She will be joined by world number 11 #AnastasijaSevastova, who is the highest-ranked unseeded player, and former top-10 player #TimeaBacsinszky, who has just recently returned from a lengthy injury lay-off. Both Sevastova and Bacsinszky are winless in Sydney though they will look to overturn that record next year. #HsiehSuwei is the last direct entry and will be making her debut in the main draw.
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