The #HobartInternational is a fantastic tournament with its Centre Court having a spectacular view — but it has always been overshadowed by the larger-scale Apia International Sydney held on the same week before the first Grand Slam of the year. Nonetheless, Hobart is set to welcome a packed field filled with world-class players in 2019.
Defending finalist returns
2018 finalist #MihaelaBuzarnescu will be returning to the Hobart hoping to move one step further, having narrowly missed out on the title this year. Buzarnescu made the final this year as an unseeded player without losing a set, kickstarting her rise into the world’s top-30 as the conditions in Hobart seemed to have suited the Romanian. This year, she will be competing as the top seed as the defending champion Elise Mertens have opted to participate at the Apia International Sydney instead.
The second seed would be #ZhangShuai, who is currently ranked 40th in the world rankings. She was the top seed this year, but the Chinese failed to advance past the second round in her past appearances and hence would be coming back looking to break the duck and mount the deep run to earn the confidence she needs ahead of the first Major in 2019.
Making their debuts in the main draw of the Hobart International would be #MariaSakkari and #BelindaBencic. Sakkari had previously lost in the qualifying rounds, while the tournament will be a completely new experience for the Swiss who used to compete in Sydney with her former status of a top-10 player.
#AnastasiaPavlyuchenkova will make her return to Hobart after a lengthy absence as her ranking perfectly sets her up to be the fourth seed in the tournament, as compared to not even earning a main draw spot in Sydney. Should the Russian get to business immediately, she is definitely a title contender.
We should also never count out sixth seed #AlizeCornet, who lifted the trophy back in 2016. The Frenchwoman defeated Eugenie Bouchard in a one-sided final back then and looks to replicate her success after being defeated by eventual finalist Buzarnescu in the opening round this year.
Hard-hitters unite in Hobart
Three-time quarterfinalist #AlisonRiske will start her season in Shenzhen before travelling to Hobart to have one last warm-up before the Australian Open. She has achieved some success in this International tournament in the past, and will look to upset the higher-ranked players once again. #TimeaBabos, whose explosive game is always dangeous and a threat to other players, will aim to break the duck and claim her first Hobart win next year.
Making their debuts in the tournament would be a long list of hard-hitting youngsters. Hong Kong champion #DayanaYastremska, the highest-ranked teenager currently, will compete alongside the Moscow finalist #OnsJabeur who recently managed to crack the top-60 of the rankings.
#ViktoriaKuzmova, #RebeccaPeterson, and #VeraLapko will also be making their first appearances in this spectacular event.
Other notable players in action
Former top-20 player and 2017 Wimbledon semifinalist #MagdalenaRybarikova will compete in Hobart once more, having reached the last four all the way back in 2009. 2016 semifinalist #JohannaLarsson is the last player to receive a direct entry into the main draw and she will look to make full use of her opportunity to challenge the higher-ranked players.
Three-time quarterfinalist #KirstenFlipkens is back in action, alongside #IrinaCameliaBegu and #AlisonVanUytvanck who both failed to make the quarterfinals in their last appearances. #PaulineParmentier will also be aiming to grab her first-ever main draw win in Hobart. Closing out the entry list would be debutantes #SofiaKenin and #WangYafan.
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