Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

World No.30 Sloane Stephens (USA), Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) and defending champion Heather Watson (GBR) will join Canadian starlet Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) in Tasmania for the 23rd edition of the Hobart International.

22-year-old Stephens, an Australian Open 2013 semifinalist, headlines the strong field in her third appearance at the tournament.

Cibulkova, a proven performer in Australia, reaching the Australian Open final in 2014 and quarterfinals in 2015, will make her Hobart debut.

2015 champion, Watson, returns in pursuit of becoming the first player to win the tournament back-to-back.

Two-time Grand Slam doubles champion in 2015, Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA), popular French player Alize Cornet, world No.35 Camila Giorgi (ITA), and 2012 champion and 2013 finalist Mona Barthel (GER) are also notable starters in the main draw.

Hobart International Tournament Director Mark Handley is looking forward to welcoming a quality line-up of women to the Domain Tennis Centre in January.

“We are extremely excited to welcome the 2016 field to Hobart and to have the opportunity to host some of the world’s top female players,” Handley said.

“Sloane Stephens, Dominika Cibulkova, defending champion Heather Watson and Eugenie Bouchard lead an extremely talented group of female athletes who have the ability to produce some highly competitive matches for our Tasmanian sporting fans.

“2016 looks to be one of the strongest fields we have ever had, with two Grand Slam finalists, as well as some of the rising stars of the game.

“The strength of the field emphasizes how valuable the tournament is to the women’s tour ahead of the first Grand Slam of the year.

We encourage the community to come out and support the players and enjoy a day out at the tennis,” Handley added.

The official field for Hobart International 2016 is as follows:

Player World ranking

Sloane Stephens (USA) 30
Camila Giorgi (ITA) 35
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 38
Monica Niculescu (ROU) 39
Madison Brengle (USA) 40
Barbora Strycova (CZE) 42
Alize Cornet (FRA) 43
Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) 44
Mona Barthel (GER) 45
Teliana Pereira (BRA) 46
Johanna Konta (GBR) 48
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) 49
Zarina Diyas (KAZ) 52
Misaki Doi (JPN) 54
Heather Watson (GBR) 55
Johanna Larsson (SWE) 56
Petra Cetkovska (CZE) 56*
Danka Kovinic (MNE) 57
Annika Beck (GER) 58
Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 60
Margarita Gasparyan (RUS) 61
Denisa Allertova (CZE)  62
Christina McHale (USA) 63

*SR = special ranking

Hobart International 2016 will take place at the Domain Tennis Centre from 10 to 16 January 2016.

The tournament is part of the Emirates Australian Open Series, which also incorporates the Hopman Cup (Perth), Brisbane International presented by Suncorp, Apia International Sydney and World Tennis Challenge (Adelaide).

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.