Former world No.1 Jelena Jankovic, defending champion Alize Cornet and world No.22 Kiki Bertens headline a strong field for Hobart International 2017.
Jankovic, who spent 18 weeks at No.1 during 2008-2009, is one of eight players set to compete in the Tasmanian city for the first time this summer.
The 31-year-old Serbian, currently ranked No.54, is the third former world No.1 to compete at the Hobart International in the past decade, following appearances from Serena Williams in 2007 and Dinara Safina in 2011.
World No.22 Kiki Bertens is the highest-ranked player in the field. The 25-year-old Dutchwoman, a French Open semifinalist in 2016, reached the quarterfinals in January and is a former Hobart International doubles champion.
Frenchwoman Alize Cornet returns to defend her 2016 singles title, aiming to become the first player to do so in the tournament’s 24-year history.
“Both have had great success in Hobart in the past,” Tournament director Mark Handley said. “Kiki is coming off a career-best season, so we’re excited to welcome her back to Hobart and Alize played a sensational tournament to win in 2016 so it’s great she is defending the title.”
The field also includes Czech Lucie Safarova and Italian Sara Errani, two former French Open finalists and top five players, as well as popular German Andrea Petkovic, another former top 10 player.
World No.2 doubles player Kristina Mladenovic and emerging Latvian Anastasija Sevastova also loom as title contenders. As do rising stars Ana Konjuh, a US Open quarterfinalist in 2016, and Naomi Osaka, the WTA Newcomer of the Year for 2016.
“Hobart has consistently attracted some of the most talented and accomplished female athletes in the world and 2017’s instalment is no different,” Handley said.
“We pride ourselves on being the preferred platform for players to prepare for the Australian Open and we are thrilled to have seven proven top 20 performers and four who have had outstanding results at Grand Slam level in the 2017 field.
“We are also conscious that our event can be the catalyst for a year of sustained performance and 2016 was no different with both Dominika Cibulkova and Johanna Konta ending the year inside the world’s top 10. We are excited to find out who might emulate their predecessors in 2017.”
Belgian Kirsten Flipkens, a Wimbledon semifinalist in 2013 and a second seed at the Hobart International in 2014, is the last direct acceptance.
2017 field:
| PLAYER | RANK |
| Kiki Bertens (NED) | No.22 |
| Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) | No.34 |
| Monica Niculescu (ROU) | No.38 |
| Alison Riske (USA) | No.39 |
| Misaki Doi (JPN) | No.40 |
| Alize Cornet (FRA) | No.41 |
| Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) | No.42 |
| Ana Konjuh (CRO) | No.47 |
| Naomi Osaka (JPN) | No.48 |
| Sara Errani (ITA) | No.49 |
| Johanna Larsson (SWE) | No.50 |
| Annika Beck (GER) | No.51 |
| Katerina Siniakova (CZE) | No.52 |
| Julia Goerges (GER) | No.53 |
| Jelena Jankovic (SRB) | No.54 |
| Andrea Petkovic (GER) | No.55 |
| Viktorija Golubic (SUI) | No.56 |
| Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) | No.57 |
| Shelby Rogers (USA) | No.59 |
| Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) | No.60 |
| Lucie Safarova (CZE) | No.62 |
| Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) | No.64 SR |
| Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) | No.65 |
Hobart International 2017 takes places at the Domain Tennis Centre from 8 to 14 January 2017.
Tickets are now on sale via Ticketek or by calling 1300 888 104.