(Sydney) Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka will participate in the Brisbane tournament just before beginning the defense of her title at the Australian Open, the organizers of the WTA 500 tournament announced on Tuesday.

“I am very excited about starting my Australian tour in 2024 in Brisbane,” commented the player, quoted in a press release. “Australia has had a special place in my heart since I won my first Grand Slam tournament there.”

In addition to the world No.2, the Brisbane tournament will also host the Kazakh Elena Rybakina (N.4), defeated in the final of the Australian Open by Sabalenka in early 2023, and the former N.2. 1 Japanese world champion Naomi Osaka for her big return to competition. Faced in particular with mental health problems, Osaka has not played since the WTA 500 tournament in Tokyo in September 2022.

Between December 31 and January 7, Brisbane will also host a men’s ATP 250 tournament, for which the Dane Holger Rune (N.8), the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (N.14), the American Ben Shelton ( N.17) or the Scotsman Andy Murray (N.42).

The Brisbane meeting is used by the players as preparation for the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season which takes place a week later.