Returning to a tournament where you have good memories is a special feeling for any tennis player but for German Mona Barthel and Russian Elena Vesnina, returning to Hobart evokes even greater memories.
Both players broke through for their maiden WTA title at the Hobart International.
Barthel shocked even herself when she came through qualifying to take the title in 2012, while Vesnina broke through for her first singles title in 2013.
Both players have returned to Hobart in 2014 and today took time out to see the Champions Walk in Hobart, which features posters of all former Hobart International champions. It runs from the Constitution Dock to the home of the tournament, the Domain Tennis Centre.
The walk is a new initiative this year and has added to the excitement that takes over the city during the biggest week on its tennis calendar.
The two players said it was an honour to see themselves feature at the end the Champions Walk as the two most recent tournament champions.
Barthel, who won a spot in the second round yesterday, said returning to Hobart brought back great memories.
“It is a really special place for me and I always look forward to coming here,” she said.
She was pleased to get through yesterday’s first round. It snapped a five-match losing streak that stretched back to the end of the 2013 season.
“It’s always tough to start off the year. I think a lot of things can be better but it was a good start,” she said of her round one win.
Barthel, the runner-up to Vesnina last year, has never lost before the final in Hobart but isn’t looking any further than her next round where she plays Romanian Monica Niculescu.
“I’m just trying to do my best,” Barthel said.
Vesnina’s triumph at last year’s Hobart International was a massive relief for her, as it snapped a streak of six finals losses.
This year she has a chance to create history and become the first player to win back-to-back titles in the tournament’s history. But Vesnina knows it will be a challenge to defend her title, especially with the stellar field competing this year.
“It’s a strong tournament. There is a lot of great players,” she said.
Her preparation has also been less than ideal. A foot injury derailed her plans to play in Auckland last week, making this her first tournament of the 2014 season. She is hoping for at least a few matches to help her prepare for next week’s Australian Open.
“I’ll need a few matches to find my game,” she said.
Vesnina starts her title defence against Puerto Rican Monica Puig tonight.