Brisbane QLD, Australia, 25 September 2017 | David Packman

Priscilla Hon arrives in her hometown of Brisbane on the heels of a breakthrough week in Seoul where she qualified to make it through to her first WTA quarterfinal at the Korea Open.

The run included a first-ever main draw win at WTA level.

“It feels really good,” Hon, 19, said ahead of her opening round at the Brisbane QTC Tennis International, an event she won in 2015. “But it’s one good week and now onto the next. I’m just focusing on what’s ahead.

“Obviously, everyone is going to be watching me a little bit more closely now and will probably have higher expectations, but I will try and block that out and just think about how I want to play and just keep trying to get better.”

Hon, sitting at a career-high world No. 237 and seeded seventh at the ITF $25,000 event in Brisbane, starts her campaign against wildcard Belinda Woolcock on Wednesday, and should she be successful, will then need to potentially overcome Americans Jennifer Elie (No.4) and top seed Asia Muhammad to reach the final.

Hon accredits her improvement this year to time on court.

“I have played a lot of matches which is what I was aiming for,” she said. “I just wanted to get my confidence up and learn a bit about myself.

“Now I am much clearer on what I need to be doing on the court. The last couple of tournaments I feel like I’ve been slowly getting up towards my best. It’s a progression.”

Hon is looking forward to the homegrown atmosphere in Brisbane. “It’s only once a year so hopefully I can do well and just enjoy it. That’s the main thing,” she said.

Victorian Olivia Rogowska, fresh from claiming the title in Penrith last week, is the top-ranked Australian in the Brisbane draw. The No.3 seed will be riding high on confidence when she takes on American qualifier and former Wimbledon semifinalist Alexandra Stevenson.

Rogowska finds herself in a half of the draw filled with talented Japanese players including Eri Hozumi (No.2), Ayano Shimizu (No.5) and Erika Sema (No.6).

In-form Kimberley Birrell, the runner-up in Penrith, takes on Shimizu in an opening round encounter.

Tammi Patterson, the only other seeded Australian (No.8) takes on local favourite Olivia Tjandramulia first up with the winner facing Japanese qualifier Ramu Ueda or German Vivian Heisen.

Live scores of all Australian Pro Tour events are available through www.tennis.com.au/protour/scores and for a live stream of selected events visit www.tennis.com.au/protour.