Garbine to play Brissie

GARBINE Muguruza and Sloane Stephens are the latest grand slam tournament winners who are confirmed for the 2018 Brisbane International.

World No.2 Muguruza is the reigning Wimbledon champion and was recently named WTA Player of the Year, while world No.15 Stephens won the US Open and will compete in Brisbane for the first time.

The pair join an already star-studded line-up that includes defending women’s champion Karolina Pliskova, top-ranked Australian Ashleigh Barty and men’s drawcards Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Nick Kyrgios.

“Brisbane was the start of a successful season for me in 2017 and it was an easy decision to play again,” Spaniard Muguruza said of the event, which begins on December 31.