Eugenie Bouchard to play in Hobart International
Wednesday 2 December 2015 13:42, UK
Eugenie Bouchard is to play in next year's Hobart International in Tasmania, which will form part of her build-up towards the season's first Grand Slam of 2016 in Melbourne.
The Canadian has experienced a dreadful 2015 which has seen her ranking plummet, having failed to reach the quarter-finals of any WTA Tour event since January.
After reaching No 7 in the world during 2014, the 21-year-old has slipped to 48 and she will be hoping to resurrect her career in the new year.
The low point arrived at the US Open in September when she was forced to withdraw at Flushing Meadows after suffering concussion when she fell in the locker room.
She later filed a lawsuit against the United States Tennis Association claiming negligence following the incident.
Since then, she has contested just a single match during which she was forced to withdraw against Andrea Petkovic in Beijing because of dizziness.
Bouchard, the Wimbledon runner-up last year, said in a statement: "I want to start my 2016 season strongly and am hoping to get high quality matches in Hobart.
"The tournament is played on the same surface as the Australian Open and will help me prepare for Melbourne.
"I've had great success in Australia in the past and can't wait to experience a new city." The tournament starts on January 10.
However, before she arrives in Australia, she is expected to contest the Shenzhen Open in China which begins on January 3.
