Former champions Alize Cornet and Mona Barthel headline the schedule as main draw action hits off at the Domain Tennis Centre today.
Australian wildcard Lizette Cabrera opens play on Centre Court at noon, meeting Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia.
The 20-year-old scored her first WTA main draw win at last year’s Hobart International and returns confident of challenging the world’s best players.
> READ MORE: Cabrera’s happy return
Cornet then returns to Centre Court for the first time since her 2016 title win, facing debutant Romanian Michaela Buzarnescu in the opening round. It is their first career meeting.
A showdown between Barthel, the 2012 champion, and American Varvara Lepchenko follows. The two players are very familiar with each other’s games, having played six times previously. Their most recent meeting was just last week in Auckland – when Lepchenko claimed her fourth hard court win over the German. Yet the 27-year-old Barthel will have an edge when it comes to handling the Hobart conditions, boasting the most wins at the tournament of any player in this year’s draw.
“I feel really comfortable here. I think it’s a great tournament and a beautiful city. I always have a really good time coming here,” Barthel said.
Rising stars Naomi Osaka of Japan and Yulia Putintseva of Kazahkstan close Centre Court action in their first career meeting. As the Hobart International celebrates its 25th edition this week, Putintseva is celebrating a milestone of her own – she turns 23 today.
Final round qualifying matches are also on the schedule, with last year’s finalist Monica Niculescu and 2015 champion Heather Watson in action.
So is Australian Naiktha Bains, who faces former world No.13 Kirsten Flipkens in her quest to qualify for the main draw.
It’s not too late to book tickets – and don’t forget this year the tournament has introduced a $10 after 5pm ticket and kids can enter for free.