Brisbane International 2011 finalist Andrea Petkovic is the first of the international hopes to arrive for Brisbane International 2014.
The 26-year-old German held her first training session at the Queensland Tennis Centre – a stark contrast to the German winter she has left behind.
“I like to come to Brisbane early because I have family and friends here, so I enjoy this more than going somewhere to practice.”
Petkovic’s 2013 season was cut short by a knee injury she sustained at the Hopman Cup.
“Australians ask me if I still like Australia now, but I still love Australia,” she said.
“There are bad memories – I also injured my knee here in 2008 – but on the other hand I played in my first quarters at a Grand Slam at the Australian Open [in 2011].
“A lot of people thought I would quit after the third injury or maybe the fourth. I hear a lot of people saying when they get injured ‘I never stopped believing in myself’. That wasn’t true for me at all. I doubt myself every day and I still do.
“But I never stop wanting it – I still had the guts to practice and do rehab because I love competing. I thought being injured was not the way to end it. I have to end it on a bigger note.
“Hopefully I will get back to Germany back in one piece after the last three years.”
Petkovic will enter this year’s tournament unseeded and looms as a dangerous first-round opponent for whoever she is drawn to play.
“I am here to have really good matches and prepare for the Aussie Open,” she said.