{"id":4310,"date":"2013-11-13T09:46:29","date_gmt":"2013-11-12T23:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/tas\/?p=4310"},"modified":"2013-11-13T09:46:29","modified_gmt":"2013-11-12T23:46:29","slug":"venus-to-star-at-hobart-international","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tennis.com.au\/tas\/news\/2013\/11\/13\/venus-to-star-at-hobart-international","title":{"rendered":"Venus to star at Hobart International"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former world No.1 Venus Williams<\/strong> has today confirmed she will play at the Hobart International 2014<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The seven-time Grand Slam champion is excited to make her debut at the Tasmanian tournament in the new year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never played in Hobart before, I hear it\u2019s a very beautiful city and I can\u2019t wait to meet my fans there,\u201d said Williams.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe tournament is played on the same surface as the Australian Open<\/strong>, so it will be great place to get some good match practice against tough opponents before I head to Melbourne.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve heard from other players on the tour that Hobart is a great event and I am really looking forward to competing,\u201d continued Williams, who has won an impressive 44 career singles titles.<\/p>\n

Hobart International Tournament Director and Executive Director of Tennis Tasmania, Mark Handley,<\/strong> is delighted Williams will make her first Hobart appearance at 2014 tournament and says she will add star power to the line-up.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are thrilled Venus has chosen to play at the Hobart International 2014,\u201d said Handley.<\/p>\n

\u201cVenus is a sustained superstar of world sport and we are wrapped she will be able to display her Grand Slam winning talent in Hobart.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis will be the first time she has made the journey to Tasmania and we look forward to welcoming her to Hobart and to help her prepare for the Australian Open.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith both Sam Stosur and Venus now confirmed to compete in the event, we\u2019re excited to showcase these two amazing athletes to the Tasmanian community at the Hobart International,\u201d Handley added.<\/p>\n

Premier of Tasmania, The Hon. Lara Giddings,<\/strong> is equally as excited to be welcoming Williams to Hobart this summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Tasmanian tennis calendar gets more exciting by the day,\u201d Ms Giddings said.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s announcement that Venus Williams will play the Hobart International means Tasmanians will get to see some of the giants of world tennis right here on their doorstep.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt complements news last month that Sam Stosur will play the tournament as part of her preparation for the Australian Open.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, of course, we wait with baited breath to hear which Russian superstars will make up the team for the Fed Cup in February,\u201d Ms Giddings added.<\/p>\n

– ends \u2013<\/p>\n

Hobart International will take place at the Domain Tennis Centre from 5-11 January 2014.<\/p>\n

Hobart International 2014 tickets are on sale now from Ticketek. Tickets can be purchased:<\/p>\n