Two-time Grand Slam champion and world No.9 Garbine Muguruza and former world No.3 David Ferrer will make their Mastercard Hopman Cup debut for Spain in 2019.
Also heading to Western Australia are Greek rising stars, the new world No.15 Stefanos Tsitsipas and world No.31 Maria Sakkari.
The two teams join world No.2 Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic for Switzerland and world No.4 Alexander Zverev and Wimbledon champion and world No.4 Angelique Kerber of Germany who are already confirmed.
Muguruza and Ferrer will be looking to win Spain’s fifth Hopman Cup title after Fernando Verdasco and Anabel Medina Garrigues most recently won the title in 2013.
“I’m looking forward to Perth and to play there. I’ve heard so many things about Hopman Cup chatting about it to other Spanish people that went and they say it’s magic,” Muguruza said.
“I’m excited to play with David and yes I’ve seen it on TV and it looks very fun and competitive at the same time.
“There’s something about the Australian vibe that makes us want to be there and makes us happy. The crowd is so involved with us, that we love to play there.”
Spanish veteran Ferrer will make his first trip to Perth after travelling to the Australian Open for the past 15 years.
“I never had the chance to play in the Hopman Cup, but all the people say to me that it’s an amazing competition,” Ferrer said.
“It’s very good, very good preparation for Australia. And you know I like playing in a competition with teams.
“I think we have a really good team. Garbine is one of the best players of the world. I’ve never played with Garbine. It’s going to be all new for me in Perth.”
The charismatic and talented duo of Tsitsipas and Sakkari are the first Greek team to play the event for 17 years.
Twenty-year-old Tsitsipas burst onto the men’s tour only 10 months ago when he won his first tour-level main draw match.
Since then he has made the Barcelona final and semifinals in Washington before upstaging four of the world’s top 10 players, [8] Dominic Thiem, [10] Novak Djokovic, [4] Zverev and [6] Kevin Anderson to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 final at the Rogers Cup in Toronto, last weekend.
The young superstar is thrilled to represent Greece with his friend and compatriot Sakkari.
“I’m super excited to be playing in Perth and, together with Maria, being the first Greek team playing in Perth for many years,” Tsitsipas said.
“I can’t wait to have all the support from the crowd, from the Greek people that live in Perth and for such a fantastic event like the Hopman Cup.
“Playing in front of such an amazing crowd in such a nice city like Perth, it’s like a dream come true for me. I’ve worked so hard for it and being part of this event is so important for me.
“Putting Greece on the map of tennis is super important as well, inspiring kids. We are the two players that can change tennis in Greece and, you know, bring it to another level, to a completely new level.”
Sakkari is also marking her mark on the women’s tour. The 23-year-old made the third round of three Grand Slams in 2017, propelling her into the women’s top 50 at the end of last year, and made her first WTA Premier final just two weeks ago in San Jose.
Sakkari is rapt to be heading to Perth to represent Greece.
“It’s one of the best events during the year. All of them are having fun. Its great matches, great atmosphere, great place, great arena, great hotel. I mean everything is unbelievable. So I’m looking forward for everything,” Sakkari said.
“Stefanos is so talented and he’s an unbelievable player. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun playing together because we know each other since we were very young.
“In Greece we’re very patriotic and, especially me, I mean I love representing Greece whenever I have the chance. It’s a great chance to play now for Greece at the Hopman Cup.”
Mastercard Hopman Cup Tournament Director Paul Kilderry added, “We are pleased to welcome two of Spain’s most decorated players in Garbine Muguruza and David Ferrer for the first time to Perth.”
“We also look forward to welcoming Stefanos (Tsitsipas) and Maria (Sakkari) from Greece, two future stars who love playing for their country. We know the people of Perth will enjoy watching these two compete.
“Our field is strong with four top 10 players heading to Western Australia in 2019 and half the field yet to be announced.”
Mastercard Hopman Cup 2019
Switzerland – [2] Roger Federer and [45] Belinda Bencic
Germany – [4] Alexander Zverev and [4] Angelique Kerber
Spain – [79] David Ferrer and [9] Garbine Muguruza
Greece – [15] Stefanos Tsitsipas and [31] Maria Sakkari
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