A clash between Monika Wejnert and defending champion Petra Kvitova headlines the opening day of qualifying for the Moorilla Hobart International today.
Wejnert won the Optus 18s Australian Championships and reached a career-high ranking of 329 in December.
After defeating fellow countrywoman Iveta Benesova in the Moorilla Hobart International final last year, Kvitova struggled with injury throughout 2009 causing her ranking to slip outside the top 60 in the world, the cut off for the Moorilla Hobart International.
Finding form at the end of the season Kvitova reached the fourth round of the US Open, knocking out top seed and then world No.1 Dinara Safina on the way.
Three more Australians will also contest qualifying today.
Tasmanian Alyssa Hibberd, who is making her Sony Ericsson WTA Tour debut at the Moorilla Hobart International, has also drawn a former champion and is scheduled to play Anna Chakvetadze.
Marija Mirkovic will meet world No.73 Alberta Brianti and Sally Peers takes on world No.84 Elena Baltacha.
2006 Moorilla Hobart International champion, Michaella Krajicek, is also lurking in the qualifying draw, and is up against Sharon Fichman from Canada.
“With three former champions contesting the event alongside some of the most promising up and coming Australian women it is going to be one of the toughest qualifying draws at the Moorilla Hobart International in years,” Moorilla Hobart International Tournament Director Michael Roberts said.
Gates open at 9:00am with matches starting at 10:00am.
Tickets can be purchased for the Moorilla Hobart International through Ticketek, or at the Domain Tennis Centre, with tickets starting at just $9.90.