Venus Williams will head to Tasmania for the first time next year in a bid to get some solid match practice before the Australian Open.

The former world No.1 and seven-time grand slam champion will join Australia’s Samantha Stosur at the Hobart International from January 5-11.

Williams, whose sister Serena is set to play the Brisbane International a week earlier, said she had heard only good things about Hobart and was looking forward to making her Domain Tennis Centre debut.

“The tournament is played on the same surface as the Australian Open, so it will be great place to get some good match practice against tough opponents before I head to Melbourne,” said Williams, currently ranked world No.48.

Stosur’s appearance will mark her first at the Hobart event in a decade – the world No.18 opting against the Sydney International in an attempt to overcome her history of poor form on home soil.