TENNIS in DEPTH.

Tuesday’s field announcement saw Victoria Azarenka’s name added the the entry list, meaning the world’s top three will all play as they complete their preparations for the following week’s Australian Open. The top two, Caroline Wozniacki and Petra Kvitova, had already announced their intention to play. The only member of the top 10 not down to play is number four Maria Sharapova. The Russian, like reigning Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters, will instead complete her preparations in Brisbane the previous week. The quality of the women’s field is summed up by the automatic entry cut-off point which is just 23 for the 30-player draw. Tournament director Craig Watson said: “The women’s event has again attracted the world’s best and with last year’s women’s finalists (Kim Clijsters and Li Na) going on to play in the Australian Open final, the Apia International Sydney is the perfect preparation for the season’s first Grand Slam.”

The men’s field is led by Juan Martin del Potro, with other top-20 stars John Isner, Richard Gasquet and Feliciano Lopez also due to compete. The tournament gets under way on January 8th.

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