A record eight Grand Slam champions will feature at this summer’s Brisbane International, including Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova.
A bunch of the biggest names in international tennis are set to convene in Brisbane to kick off their 2015 campaigns ahead of the January 19 Australian Open in Melbourne. Headlined by Grand Slam champions Federer, Sharapova, Juan Martin del Potro, Marin Cilic, Lleyton Hewitt, Ana Ivanovic, Sam Stosur and Victoria Azarenka, the Brisbane International (January 4-11) will boast its best ever field in the tournament’s six-year history.
Also joining the fray are US Open finalist Kei Nishikori, 23-year-old top 10 star Milos Raonic and 2014 Queen’s Club winner Grigor Dimitrov.
Five-time Grand Slam champ Sharapova will feature alongside top 10 rivals Ivanovic, Angelique Kerber and Dominika Cibulkova in the women’s draw.
“We’re thrilled with the calibre of the fields we have assembled for this summer’s event, the tournament continues to grow each year and 2015 is shaping up as one of our best yet,” tournament director Cameron Pearson said.
“It’s fantastic to welcome Roger Federer back to Brisbane as well as our men’s defending champion Lleyton Hewitt, newly-crowned Grand Slam champion Marin Cilic and crowd favourites Grigor Dimitrov and Bernard Tomic.
“Each year the event attracts many of the world’s top women and 2015 will be no exception, with Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Sam Stosur, Victoria Azarenka and many more big names set to compete.
“To have eight Grand Slam champions, five of the world’s top 11 men – as well as Juan Martin del Potro with an injury protected ranking of No.7 – and four of the top 10 women commit to Brisbane is a fantastic result, and certainly highlights the players’ regard for the tournament.”
Hewitt defeated Federer at this year’s Brisbane International to claim $82,040 in prize money while Serena Williams knocked off Azarenka in the women’s draw to collect the $196,670 winner’s check.
Photo: Phillipe Huguen/Getty Images
