Mixed fortunes for Hobart stars as draw is announced

3 January 2014, by hobartinternational.com.au

Australian Samantha Stosur, the top seed, will face a qualifer in the opening round of the 2014 Hobart International tournament.

It was announced earlier today that Stosur will begin her campaign during Monday’s day session.

In a boost to Stosur’s bid to win the tournament, former world no. 1 Venus Williams and defending champion Elena Vesnina are on the opposite side of the draw.

Williams, who is playing in Hobart for the first time, faces a tough match against former top 10 player and no. 5 seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy in her tournament debut. A round two clash with either 2012 finalist Yanina Wickmayer or Brit Laura Robson will be the award for the winner in a difficult section of the draw that also includes no. 2 seed Kirsten Flipkens from Belgium.

Defending champion Elena Vesnina was also dealt a tough draw, set to face Puerto Rican talent Monica Puig in the opening round.

Australian fan favourite Casey Dellacqua has drawn a qualifer in round one, while Australian wildcard Olivia Rogowska faces Romanian Alexandra Cadantu and Storm Sanders, an up-and-coming Australian talent, will play China’s Shuai Peng in her first ever WTA main draw match.

> Take a look at the full draw