UPDATE 2.50pm: Sam Stosur has only started back at training in the past fortnight and is yet to run at full pace after undergoing surgery on her left foot just five weeks ago.
The Australian revealed news of the operation after finding herself in the same quarter as third seed Serena Williams at the official draw for the Brisbane International on Saturday morning.
Stosur said she was hampered by the injury towards the end of the 2012 season and was now looking forward to playing pain free.
“There is no ideal time to do anything like that, but it had to be done and everything’s gone well. But I haven’t been able to do enough of what I wanted to do (in training),” she said.
Stosur drew herself in the same quarter as third seed Serena Williams at the official draw for the Brisbane International on Saturday morning.
The seventh seed will open her Brisbane campaign against Swede Sofia Arvidsson, while Williams will begin against countrywoman Varvara Lepchenko.
In a stacked top half of the draw, Stosur and Williams are joined by top seeded Belarusian Victoria Azarenka and eighth seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki.
“It’s a great test for me and everyone else in the draw to see who can start the year running,” Stosur said.
“The women’s field is usually pretty strong here but to have eight of the top 10, it doesn’t get much tougher than that.
“There’s no point going through an easy week leading into the first Grand Slam of the year.”
The world No. 9 is determined to break new ground at the Brisbane International, where she is yet to make it past the first round in two previous attempts.
“I’d love to do well here, the last few years my results have been a bit disappointing here in Brisbane. I’d certainly like to rectify that this year … and to give the home crowd something to cheer for.“
The top two seeds Azarenka and Maria Sharapova have first round byes.
Check out the full women’s singles draw here.