Adelaide [Australia], December 1 (ANI): World No.4 Elena Rybakina, Zheng Qinwen, and Caroline Garcia are the newest prime names to hitch 2016 Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber on the Adelaide International entry record, for the match which begins on January 8.
The 2022 Wimbledon winner and 2023 Australian Open runner-up Rybakina made her match debut in Adelaide in 2022 and misplaced to Ashleigh Barty.
Zheng completed 2023 at a career-high No.15 after a terrific season that included a primary WTA 500 triumph in Zhengzhou and a run to the Zhuhai remaining.
Kerber has had plenty of success in Australia. In addition to successful the 2016 Australian Open, she additionally received in 2018 Sydney and was a runner-up in 2016 Brisbane.
Kerber is certainly one of three former No. 1s and new moms making a comeback on tour. Caroline Wozniacki returned from retirement earlier this summer season, reaching the Round of 16 on the US Open in solely her third match again.
Naomi Osaka, a four-time Slam champion, will even return to the tour in January. Osaka gave beginning to her daughter Shai earlier this 12 months, and she or he has reiterated her personal plans to play a full schedule in 2024.
Meanwhile, the reigning Australian Open champion and World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka will begin her 2024 season on the Brisbane International, a WTA 500 occasion that begins on December 31.
Rybakina will even start her season in Brisbane. The 48-player lineup is led by Sabalenka and Rybakina, who’re joined by former World No.1s Naomi Osaka and Victoria Azarenka.
“I’m excited about starting my 2024 Australian season in Brisbane. Australia holds a special place in my heart after winning my first Grand Slam there. I can’t wait to make my debut at the Brisbane International and play in front of the Queensland tennis fans,” Sabalenka was quoted as saying by WTA. (ANI)