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Hobart International lock in stellar 2020 field

Four top 40 players are in the mix!

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No matter where you are, there is a slice of summer tennis coming your way and with an exciting field locked in for the 2020 Hobart International things are really heating up.

Two-time champion Elise Mertens (BEL) will headline a strong field alongside 2016 title winner Alize Cornet (FRA) and former world No.4 Caroline Garcia (FRA).

In 2018, Mertens made tournament history when she became the first back-to-back singles champion after successfully defending her 2017 title. At No.17, the 24-year-old will be the highest-ranked player to enter the tournament since 2011 when No. 16 Marion Bartoli was the top seed. Mertens has followed up in fine form, making the Australian Open semifinals in 2018, the quarterfinals at the 2019 US Open, and finishing the past two seasons ranked inside the world’s top 20 in both singles and doubles.

Frenchwoman Cornet returns for her seventh appearance in Hobart and will be joined by her Fed Cup-winning teammates in Caroline Garcia and Fiona Ferro. Elena Rybakina (KAZ) is the second highest-ranked player in the field following a breakthrough season in 2019 for the world No. 36.

In exciting news for Aussie tennis fans, Australian favourite and former world No.4 Sam Stosur has accepted a wildcard spot for next year’s Hobart International. Stosur is currently ranked No. 12 in doubles and enjoyed a strong 2019 campaign where she claimed the Australian Open doubles title with China’s Shuai Zhang and finished inside the world’s top 100 for a 16th consecutive year.

Former world No.2 and two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) will make her first visit to Hobart since 2004. The Russian player scored four top-10 wins in 2019, including defeating Ash Barty to reach Cincinnati final.

With Kuznetsova and Stosur in the mix, next year’s Hobart International will be the first to host two Grand Slam singles champions in the same year. “The quality of the Hobart International 2020 field is exciting for us and for the fans,” says Hobart International Tournament Director Darren Sturgess.

“Securing four top 40 players along with a host of players who have won Grand Slams in singles and doubles is a great result for the Hobart International and reinforces the event’s reputation as one that attracts both current and future stars of women’s tennis.”

The Hobart International will feature a range of fresh initiatives to enhance fan experiences in 2020. The free family weekend will again feature over the opening two days of the tournament, with a host of engaging activities for all ages also on offer, including the chance to experience the latest on-court summer social tennis offering for adults.

sam stosur hobart international

Hobart International 2020 full field

  • Elise Mertens (BEL) – No.17
  • Elena Rybakina (KAZ) – No.36
  • Shuai Zhang (CHN) – No.39
  • Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) – No.40
  • Magda Linette (POL) – No.43
  • Catherine Bellis (USA) – No.43 SR
  • Rebecca Peterson (SWE) – No.44
  • Caroline Garcia (FRA) – No.46
  • Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) – No.47
  • Yafan Wang (CHN) – No.48
  • Viktoria Kuzmova (SVK) – No.52
  • Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) – No.54
  • Marie Bouzkova (CZE) – No.57
  • Alize Cornet (FRA) – No.59
  • Anna Blinkova (RUS) – No.61
  • Fiona Ferro (FRA) – No.62
  • Timara Zidansek (SLO) – No.63
  • Lauren Davis (USA) – No.64
  • Kristina Plyskova (CZE) – No.66
  • Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) – No.70
  • Lin Zhu (CHN) – No.71
  • [WC] Sam Stosur (AUS) – No.99

The Hobart International will take over Domain Tennis Centre from Saturday 11 until Saturday 18 January. Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster.com.au.