According to organisers on Tuesday, World number two Aryna Sabalenka and number four Elena Rybakina will start their 2024 seasons at the Brisbane International, which is a warm-up for the Australian Open.
The WTA 500 event already announced the participation of former world number one Naomi Osaka. The tournament is returning in the first week of January after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic.
Sabalenka will not be able to compete in the United Cup mixed tournament in Perth and Sydney, which is happening the same week, due to the ongoing ban on teams from Belarus and Russia resulting from the invasion of Ukraine.
She will be joining her fellow Belarusian and twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the 48-player Brisbane field as she prepares for her first Grand Slam title defence at Melbourne Park.
In a news release, Sabalenka expressed her excitement, saying, “Australia holds a special place in my heart after winning my first Grand Slam there. I can’t wait to make my debut at the Brisbane International and play in front of the Queensland tennis fans.”
Russian-born Kazakh Rybakina, the Wimbledon champion in 2022, was defeated by Sabalenka in this year’s Melbourne final.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
