Stosur, Hewitt to play in Brisbane International

SYDNEY (AFP) –

Australia grand slam winner Samantha Stosur during a match at the Pan Pacific Open tournament in September. Stosur and Lleyton Hewitt will start their 2013 season at the Brisbane International ATP/WTA event in December, organisers said on Tuesday.

Australian grand slam winners Samantha Stosur and Lleyton Hewitt will start their 2013 season at the Brisbane International ATP/WTA event in December, organisers said on Tuesday.

World number nine and last year’s US Open champion Stosur is looking to do better than her second round exit in straight sets to the Czech Republic’s Iveta Benesova at the last Brisbane tournament.

“I have had a couple of good wins at the Brisbane International, I would like more, so hopefully that will change in 2013,” Stosur said.

It will be former Wimbledon and US Open champion Hewitt’s first appearance at the Brisbane International.

Hewitt, 31 and ranked 105, has enjoyed some solid performances this year after returning from injury, reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open and the third round of the London Olympics.

Stosur and Hewitt join Andy Murray, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova in the December 30-January 6 Brisbane International.