Can Brit Heather Watson defend her Hobart International crown?
In the tournament’s 22-year history, it has not been done before – but the returning Watson has her sights set on more glory in the Apple Isle.
Watson was the story of our 2015 tournament. She did not drop a set as she tore through the draw as an unseeded player.
“Here I feel like I belong,” Watson surmised after her winning run, which pushed her to a career-high rank of No.38.
Inconsistency plagued the rest of the 23-year-old’s season, as her results fluctuated between impressive wins and disappointing losses.
She upset world No.8 Agnieszka Radwanska at Indian Wells in March and almost beat world No.1 Serena Williams on Wimbledon’s Centre Court in June. These were highs among 10 first round losses, including at the Australian Open and US Open where she lost to lower-ranked opponents. She finished the season ranked No.54.
Watson will be unseeded when she makes her return to the Domain Tennis Centre, adding a further degree of difficulty to her title defense.
She is one of two former champions in the field, alongside 2012 winner Mona Barthel.
The German was the first player to win the tournament from qualifying, then almost became the first to defend the title. She made the final in her return, but lost to Russian Elena Vesnina.
Barthel boasts a 13-3 win-loss record in Hobart, so it is no wonder she is a regular entrant.
“It’s a really special place for me and I always look forward to coming here,” she said.
American Madison Brengle went close to emulating Barthel’s 2012 run.
Brengle was the surprise packet of the 2015 tournament, starting in qualifying and winning seven matches to earn a spot in the final.
Watson, her off-season training partner, proved too strong in the decider but Brengle is back in 2016 as she aims to go one better.
Fellow American Bethanie Mattek-Sands was a finalist here in 2011, when she lost to Australian Jarmila Gajdosova.
The flamboyant 30-year-old is returning to Hobart for the first time since 2012.
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