German Mona Barthel headlines the action on day one of the 2014 Hobart International but retired champion Martina Hingis is set to steal the spotlight.
Barthel, the no.6 seed, faces Ukrainian Elena Svitolina in the opening match of the singles main draw.
Barthel has an impressive record in Hobart, having won the title as a qualifier on debut in 2012 then finishing runner-up in 2013.
Svitolina will be no easy task for the world no. 34.
The 19 year-old Svitolina had a breakthrough season in 2013, cracking the world’s top 50 and winning her first WTA title. She was the youngest tournament winner on the tour last year and the only teenager to win a title.
That is the sole round one singles main draw match scheduled for today.
Fans can still enjoy singles action with the final round of qualifying to be played. The biggest story of the qualifying draw has been 16 year-old Australian Naiktha Bains. The world no. 1068 will aim to continue her winning run and earn a main draw place when she takes on world no. 63 Garbine Muguruza.
Matches in the doubles draw also start today, with a handful of intriguing match-ups on the schedule.
American veteran Lisa Raymond, a former world no.1, will take to the court partnering China’s Shuai Zhang.
The second seeded pair face Australian wildcard combination Kimberly Birrell, 15, and Olivia Tjandramulia, 16.
The Australian pair will be contesting their first WTA doubles event, a stark contrast to the 40 year-old Raymond who is entering her 22nd year on tour.
The day’s schedule concludes with a highly anticipated special exhibition match between three-time Australian Open champion Martina Hingis and current world no. 1 junior Belinda Bencic.
It will be the first time Hingis has played in Hobart.
> Read what Hingis had to say about the exhibition match
Play starts at 10am at the Domain Tennis Centre in Hobart.
Tickets can be purchased at ticketek.com.au.