The 2009 Moorilla Hobart International is set to boast the most talented line-up in the event’s 16 year history.
Three of the world’s top 20, Flavia Pennetta, Patty Schnyder and Anna Chakvetadze, will all be contesting the tournament in January, event organisers announced today.
Fresh off the back of her best professional season to date, world No.13 Pennetta will be top seed at Moorilla Hobart International 2009.
Pennetta recorded her first Grand Slam quarterfinals appearance at Roland Garros this year, defeating No.8 seed Venus Williams en route. She won two WTA Tour singles titles in Viña del Mar and Acapulco and made her debut into the top 20 in the world.
World No.18 Chakvetadze is back for the first time since taking the title in 2007.
The former world No.5 recorded her third straight top 20 season this year, highlighted by winning her seventh career WTA Tour singles title in Paris.
Chakvetadze is the third former champion in the 2009 line-up and the fourth top 25 player, with world No.14 Patty Schnyder and World No.25 Jie Zheng already announced.
The field will boast a total of 17 of the world’s top 50 women.
Ukraine’s Alona Bondarenko is making her seventh trip to the Apple Isle and will be joined by event debutantes Shahar Peer (Israel) and Agnes Szavay (Hungary). Aleksandra Wozniak (Canada) and Tamarine Tanasugarn (Thailand) will also be striving to take home their first title of the new year.
Teenage sensation Nicole Vaidisova (Czech Republic), one of the beauties of the tennis world, will be trying to regain the form that saw her rise to No.7 in the world.
Moorilla Hobart International Tournament Director Michael Roberts said he was thrilled with the calibre of the line-up.
“Year after year we see the calibre of players reach new levels at the Moorilla Hobart International,” Roberts said. “To have three top 20 players’ competing is a first for the tournament and is great for Tasmanian sports fans.
“The event has built a reputation for being the springboard for new players on the tour or players aiming to regain form as they begin the new season.
“Serena Williams used the tournament to kick start her comeback to the tour in 2007, going on to win the Australian Open, and Chakvetadze followed her victory with her best season on tour.”
Iveta Benesova (Czech Republic), Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic), Tsvetana Pironkova (Bulgaria), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia), Olga Govortsova (Belarus), Monica Niculescu (Romania) and Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) round out the top 50 ranked players for the event.
With the finishing touches being made to the new Plexicushion courts at the Domain Tennis Centre, the Moorilla Hobart International will provide players the perfect preparation for Australian Open 2009.
Roberts said fans coming to the Moorilla Hobart International would again be treated to the tournament’s usual electric atmosphere and exciting on-court action.
“The popular night sessions are back again, from Monday through to the women’s final on Friday night. With such a great mix of young stars and experienced campaigners, the tournament will provide some gripping tennis.
“Each year the profile of Tasmania’s premier international women’s sporting event continues to grow and 2009 will be no exception.”
In another first for the tournament, new WTA rules will allow players to speak to their coach on-court once a set and when their opponent is receiving a medical time out or bathroom break.
Tickets are now on sale for the Moorilla Hobart International through Ticketek, with tickets starting at just $9.90.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketek.com.au or 1300 888 104.