Announced today, Slovakian glamour girl Daniela Hantuchova confirmed her attendance at the Brisbane International for the third year in a row.
In a major endorsement of the event, Hantuchova is joined by Marcos Baghdatis, Mardy Fish and Richard Gasquet who has also attended the tournament since its inaugural year in 2009.
Hantuchova said she is excited to be returning to Brisbane and playing a strong field in the lead-up to the Australian Open.
“I have some great memories from the Brisbane International,” Hantuchova said.
“Not only does the event provide fantastic facilities and a great atmosphere with a tennis-friendly crowd but it provides the best lead-in preparation for the Australian Open with a similar court surface and climate.
“The Brisbane International has built a reputation on the WTA circuit as one of the best tournaments on the Tour and this is why I keep returning year after year.
“I love Australia and I am looking forward to playing some challenging tennis against a quality line-up in the lead-up to the Australian Open.”
Brisbane International Tournament Director Steve Ayles is thrilled with the player return rate to the tournament.
“We have always had a large number of players returning to compete at the Brisbane International with 15 out of 25 men and 14 out of 24 women returning in 2010,” Ayles said.
“With Daniela and Marcos coming back for their third-straight event it is the ultimate endorsement for the tournament and the city.
“Sam [Stosur] and Andy [Roddick] have also both previously competed in Brisbane, in 2009 and 2010 respectively, and all agree that the Brisbane International is the best way to start the 2011 season – at a great event with fantastic facilities, passionate fans and a city that makes them feel at home.”
Hantuchova was an Australian Open semifinalist in 2008 and reached No.5 in August 2002.
Her career-best Grand Slams performances also include three quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2002 and the Australian Open in 2003.
The Slovakian’s best Brisbane International result came last year when she made the quarterfinals and was coached by Darren Cahill.
She has won three WTA singles tournaments in her career, the first in 2002 at the Tier I Pacific Life Open, defeating Martina Hingis 6–3 6–4 in the final, and in 2007 at the same tournament, defeating Hingis again in the fourth round and Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final 6–3 6–4 and ending a five-year title drought.
Her most recent title came at the 2007 Generali Ladies Linz in Austria, where she defeated Patty Schnyder 6–4 6–2 in the final.