Defending champion Heather Watson, former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard, and top seeds Camila Giorgi and Dominika Cibulkova headline a stellar top 70 field at the 2016 Hobart International. A WTA International-level stop on the women's calendar this season, the Tasmanian capital is the last stop for many players before heading to Melbourne to play the 2016 Australian Open.
First Quarter
The first quarter was headlined by top seed Sloane Stephens, but the American withdrew just hours after winning her second WTA singles title in Auckland on Saturday afternoon. Replacing her at the top of the draw is ninth seed and 2011 champion Mona Barthel, who will headline the field along with seventh seed Alizé Cornet. Barthel and Cornet are both coming off of two subpar 2015 seasons and after losing in their respective first tournaments of 2016, will be looking to make their mark on the Tasmanian hard courts ahead of the first Grand Slam of the season. The German will open her campaign against Japan's Misaki Doi - whom she lost to in the final of the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open late last season, and the Frenchwoman will open her tournament against dangerous Czech Denisa Allertova. Also in this section is Australia's very own Jarmila Wolfe - the Slovakian-born Australian is coming off of a poor 2015 season herself but just weeks after getting married and changing her surname, Wolfe looked sharp while representing Australia Gold alongside Lleyton Hewitt at this year's Hopman Cup; she will open her campaign against a qualifier.
Quarter final prediction: Cornet d. Barthel
Second Quarter
Headlining the second quarter of the draw are tactically astute players Monica Niculescu and Barbora Strycova. The Romanian and Czech had a slight fall from grace last year, but always remained a threat to each and every one of their opponents. Niculescu, with her unorthodox forehand slice that she consistently uses instead of a regular topspin forehand, will begin her bid for a third WTA singles title against Christina McHale. On the other side of the spectrum, Strycova will open her campaign against Swedish number one Johanna Larsson. Other players in this section include defending champion Heather Watson, and dangerous WTA Rising Star Margarita Gasparyan. The former will begin her title defence against Teliana Pereira, whereas the latter will begin her campaign against Australian wildcard Madison Inglis.
Quarter final prediction: Gasparyan d. Watson
Third Quarter
The third quarter is headlined by 2014 Australian Open runner-up Dominika Cibulkova and 2015 Hobart International finalist Madison Brengle. Cibulkova, who missed half of 2015 after undergoing surgery to repair a tendon in her left Achilles, is looking to make up for some lost ground by making a deep run in Hobart. The world number 38 will open her campaign against dangerous Brit Johanna Konta, who is coming off of a stellar 2015 season that saw her beat the likes of Simona Halep and Garbiñe Muguruza, as well as make the last eight of the U.S. Open. Brengle, on the other hand, is returning to Australia with fond memories, having made the fourth round of the Australian Open and the final of the Hobart International last season. She will look to go one step further this time around, and will open her 2016 campaign against a qualifier or lucky loser. Other players in this section include Germany's Annika Beck, Montenegro's Danka Kovinic and Australian wildcard Kimberly Birrell.
Quarter final prediction: Cibulkova d. Brengle
Fourth Quarter
Last but not least, the fourth quarter is headlined by Camila Giorgi and Alison Van Uytvanck. Giorgi has been always known to be a very hot-and-cold player, who always plays a fearless brand of tennis that can beat anyone on any given day - if she's at her best. However, 2015 was a big breakthrough in many ways for the big-hitting Italian; after losing her first three WTA singles finals, it was a case of fourth time lucky as Giorgi was victorious in the Dutch city of -s'Hertogenbosch. She will be looking to do the same in the Tasmanian capital as the number two seed, and will open her campaign against the flat-hitting Zarina Diyas. Like Giorgi, Van Uytvanck had a breakthrough 2015 season that saw her advance to the last eight of the French Open, an amazing feat considering she had never surpassed the third round of a Grand Slam in five attempts. The Belgian number two will begin her tournament against Germany's Carina Witthoeft. Other notable players in this section include Eugenie Bouchard, who is looking to kick off her 2016 season in style after a dismal 2015 season, Bethanie Mattek-Sands - who is on the back end of a stellar 2015 season in singles and doubles, and WTA Rising Star Nao Hibino.
Read about Van Uytvanck's exclusive interview with VAVEL USA regarding her 2015 season, goals for 2016 and much, much more by clicking here!
Quarter final prediction: Mattek-Sands d. Giorgi
Semi Final and Final Predictions
Semi final predictions: Gasparyan d. Cornet; Cibulkova d. Mattek-Sands
Final prediction: Cibulkova d. Gasparyan