Samantha Stosur is trying a change of tournament as she attempts to overcome her history of poor form in her home country ahead of the Australian Open.
For the first time in a decade Stosur has agreed to return to the Hobart International from January 5-11, the week before the Open, having usually competed at the Sydney International leading into the first grand slam of the year.
“It will be fun to start my year a little differently,” said 2011 US Open champion Stosur, who will begin her Australian season at the Hopman Cup in Perth a week earlier.
“Hobart is a tournament that I’ve always enjoyed playing at and I know I’ll face some tough competition there ahead of the Australian Open.”
Stosur said she was also looking forward to getting some match practice at the Domain Tennis Centre – the same venue that will host the Fed Cup tie against Russia next February.
She has twice before played in Hobart, in 2002 and 2004.
The world No.19 has won two titles this year, claiming the Southern California Open in July and the Japan Open earlier this month.