Week #1 preview: Auckland, Brisbane, Hopman Cup, Hong Kong

Brisbane (AUS), International, $220,000
2009 season opens in Brisbane with the new WTA calendar and new tournament categories (Premier & International). This International tournament will count with Serbian Ana Ivanovic as 1st seed and main favourite, although she will have to take care of Top-20 Victoria Azarenka and Marion Bartoli, former Top-5 Daniela Hantuchova and former WTA #1 Amelie Mauresmo.

Auckland (NZL), International, $220,000
Russian Elena Dementieva and Danish Caroline Wozniacki will be the top favourites for the tournament held in New Zealand. Nicole Vaidisova, Shahar Peer, Anabel Medina and Aleksandra Wozniak should be also taken into account, along with teen Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and local favourite Marina Erakovic. 37 years old Japanese Kimiko Date-Krumm (former WTA #4) has been awarded a Wild Card for the Main Draw.

Hopman Cup, Perth (AUS), Exhibition
The official mixed teams competition of the International Tennis Federation takes places in Perth, where USA, Russia, France, Australia, Italy, Germany, Slovak Republic and Chinese Taipei will compete for the title. Regarding the WTA players, WTA #3 Dinara Safina is the most remarkable participant, with Top-20 Flavia Pennetta, Alize Cornet and Dominika Cibulkova also taking part

J-B Group Classic, Hong Kong, Exhibition
The exhibition tournament in Hong Kong is becoming a classic in the season opening and this year it features a novel format. Four teams representing America, Europe, Russia and Asia Pacific, composed of two WTA players and a promising youngster, will fight for the title. WTA #1 Jelena Jankovic and Top-10 players Venus Williams and Vera Zvonareva will be the main attractions, along with Anna Chakvetadze, Agnes Szavay, Jie Zheng, Gisela Dulko and Sania Mirza.