Mornington VIC, Australia, 21 March 2017 | David Packman

Priscilla Hon has returned to Mornington a different player from the one that took out her maiden Australian Pro Tour title at the 2015 tournament.

After some time away from the game at the end of last season, Hon has been building momentum over the past couple of tournaments, the highlight of her return being a quarterfinal appearance in Perth last month.

“My mindset has definitely changed,” she said on Tuesday. “I’m playing more for myself now, putting less pressure on myself and just trying to enjoy it all a bit more.”

With rain washing out first round play at the Mornington Peninsula Tennis International #1, Hon was able to reacquaint herself with the surroundings. “I love this place,” she said. “I was really excited to come back and play here.”

Her previous success in Mornington still gives Hon reason to feel confident, although she understands that time has passed and things have changed. “It was two years ago now,” she said. “But I know the courts very well here and there’s some good memories.”

Hon will open her campaign against fellow Aussie, qualifier Abbie Myers. “She’s obviously a good player so it will be tough,” she said. “I think the clay might suit me a bit more though.”

Top seed Lizette Cabrera will also take to the courts on Wednesday, up against qualifier Genevieve Lorbergs. Despite the rankings difference, Lorbergs, the world No.832, has been making her mark on the Australian Pro Tour in recent times and with seven years’ experience on the Queensland teenager, this duel looks to be one of the more interesting on the first round schedule.

Of the remaining higher seeds, Dutch former world No. 61 and 2008 junior Australian Open winner Arantxa Rus, the No.2 seed, takes on Brit Gabriella Taylor while Aussies Arina Rodionova and Destanee Aiava, seeded No.3 and No.4 respectively, take on Japanese qualifier Nagi Hanatani and Ching Wen Hsu of Taiwan.

In other first round affairs, qualifiers Kimberly Birrell and Tammi Patterson face off, and emerging teens Jaimee Fourlis and Maddison Inglis do battle.

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.