Alicia Molik will meet Indian Sania Mirza in the opening round of the Moorilla Hobart International following the official draw this afternoon.If Molik survives the match against the world No.57 she will be on track for a potential quarterfinal clash with fellow Australian Jelena Dokic.
Dokic has drawn a qualifier in the first round and has a possible match up with Victorian Olivia Rogowska in the second round.
Rogowska appears to have the toughest assignment of the Australian contingent, drawn to play second seed and world No.30 Shahar Peer.
Sophie Ferguson, the final Australian in the field, has drawn a qualifier in the opening round.
Moorilla Hobart International Tournament Director Michael Roberts said Hobart tennis fans will be treated to some fantastic match ups over the next week.
“With 17 of the world’s top 50 women in the field, not including Molik or Dokic, we were always going to see some fantastic matches at the Moorilla Hobart International this year,” Michael Roberts said.
“With three former champions in the final round of qualifying, all with a chance of making the main draw, the field has the potential to get even stronger tomorrow and provide some interesting opponents for the players who have drawn qualifiers.”
The top half of the draw will see top seed Anabel Medina Garrigues take on the 2009 runner-up Iveta Benesova in the first round.
Eighth seed Giela Dulko will have a tough match against Hungry’s Melinda Czink, who pushed Justine Henin to three sets in the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International this week.
Main draw action gets underway tomorrow (Sunday) at the Domain Tennis Centre in Hobart.
Tickets can be purchased for the Moorilla Hobart International through Ticketek, or at the Domain Tennis Centre, with tickets starting at just $9.90.
Tickets can be purchased online at ticketek.com.au or 1300 888 104.