Elena Rybakina, Zheng Qinwen, and Caroline Garcia have been announced as the newest tennis stars to join the lineup for the upcoming Adelaide International tournament, scheduled to commence on January 8. These esteemed players will be joining the 2016 Australian Open champion, Angelique Kerber, for the WTA 500 event.
Rybakina, who recently clinched the Wimbledon championship and was the runner-up at the 2023 Australian Open, reached the final in Adelaide on her tournament debut in 2022, narrowly missing the title to Ashleigh Barty. Meanwhile, Zheng, who closed 2023 ranked at a career-high position of No.15, had a successful season, securing her first WTA 500 title in Zhengzhou and making it to the final in Zhuhai.
Former world No.1 Kerber is preparing for a comprehensive schedule as she readies herself to return to the Hologic WTA Tour in January. After taking a break from the tour following Wimbledon in 2022 to give birth to her daughter Liana in February, Kerber will represent Germany at the United Cup before officially resuming her career in Adelaide.
A tweet from the Adelaide International announced the participation of a 3x Grand Slam champion in the tournament, generating excitement from fans and fellow players. This further heightens the anticipation surrounding Kerber’s comeback to competitive tennis.
Kerber has a history of strong performances in Australia, with notable triumphs including her victory at the 2016 Australian Open and her titles at the 2018 Sydney tournament. In addition, she was a runner-up at both the 2016 Brisbane and 2014 Sydney events.
Kerber is part of a group of former No.1 players and new mothers who are making their return to the tour. Caroline Wozniacki, who came out of retirement earlier this summer, recently demonstrated her prowess by reaching the Round of 16 at the US Open in just her third tournament back. Furthermore, four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka is also gearing up for her return to the tour in January, after the birth of her daughter Shai earlier this year. Osaka has confirmed her intentions to participate in an aggressive schedule in 2024.
The inclusion of these exceptional players in the Adelaide International entry list has undoubtedly heightened the excitement surrounding the tournament, promising an enthralling start to the 2024 tennis season.