AFP, Sydney :
French Open champion Maria Sharapova is set to take part in the Brisbane International as a tune-up for January’s Australian Open, along with Grigor Dimitrov, Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Stosur.
Sharapova, the world number four and five-time Grand Slam winner, will kick off 2015 at the competition in Queensland from January 4 to 11, organisers said Wednesday.
“Brisbane is such a great tournament, I’ve tried to make it so many years and I finally made it in 2014 and it was such a great experience,” said the Russian star, who bowed out to Serena Williams in the semi-finals.
Australia’s defending champion Hewitt will return to the competition in a bid to win back-to-back titles after his victory over Roger Federer in the 2014 final.
“I really enjoy starting my year in Brisbane, it’s such a great tournament that traditionally has a strong line-up of players,” Hewitt, 33, said.
Bulgaria’s Dimitrov, currently world number 10, US Open champion Marin Cilic, runner-up Kei Nishikori and 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer are also in the men’s draw.
