Climbing back up the rankings is motivation for Frenchwoman Alize Cornet and Czech Republic’s Barbora Strycova as they prepare for Hobart International 2016.
Both were top 20 players early in 2015, but finished the season just outside the world’s top 40.
Strycova’s position slipped after failing to defend Wimbledon quarterfinal points, while Cornet struggled with consistency.
Both are competing in Hobart for a third time – where neither has previously progressed past the second round. Could it be a case of third time lucky for one of them?
Cornet reached a career-high rank of No.11 as a 19-year-old in 2009. After falling outside the top 100 a few seasons later, the animated competitor has proven she can never be underestimated. The 25-year-old sensationally beat world No.1 Serena Williams three times during the 2014 season, as well as recording wins over current top 5 stars Simona Halep and Agnieszka Radwanska to return to the top 20.
Wins were not as common in 2015, failing to reach the semifinals in any event.
“Trying to be consistent, is the toughest thing to do in tennis,” Cornet concedes.
The Frenchwoman made a positive start to her 2016 season in Brisbane this week, defeating compatriot and world No.29 Kristina Mladenovic in the first round then pushing Russian world No.28 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to three sets in the second round.
Strycova ended her 2015 season on a high, clinching the deciding doubles rubber in the Fed Cup final to win her first title in the team event.
The result left her “speechless” – could it be a confidence-boosting catalyst for the 29-year-old to shoot back up the ranks?
She started her season in Auckland, reaching the second round but lost today against German Julia Goerges.
The pair are two of five former top 20 players in our 2016 main draw, alongside Eugenie Bouchard, Dominika Cibulkova and Sloane Stephens.
Strycova is one of three Czech women in the field, joining veteran Petra Cetkovska and rising star Denisa Allertova.
Cetkovska enters the tournament on a protected ranking of No.56. Foot and hip injuries have hindered the talented 30-year-old in recent seasons. Yet she proved she was still dangerous at the US Open, saving four match points to upset fourth seed Caroline Wozniacki in the second round and pushing eventual champion Flavia Pennetta to three sets in the third round.
Petra Kvitova is the only Czech champion in the Hobart International’s 23-year history, winning the title in 2009 with victory over compatriot Iveta Benesova in the final.
Could 22-year-old Allertova follow in her footsteps and win her maiden title here too?
Consistency was a strength of Allertova’s breakout 2015 season, reaching the second round in all four Grand Slams on debut.
Are Cornet or Strycova your pick to win the 2016 Hobart International? There is only four days until main draw action hits off. Join the #HobartTennis conversation on social media and tell us what you think – Twitter and Facebook.