Hobart International’s Fab 5

IN 25 years, Ailsa Richard, Pam Roberts, Jo Lynch, Sheila Cocker, Lenice Beard and Dale Forwood have seen the Hobart International grow from a humble beginnings into one of the world’s premier WTA events.

In fact, they have done more than watch it grow, as event volunteers for every one of those years, they have been hands-on in its evolution.

They remember the state of the facility in 1994 when the Hobart tournament kicked off, and can’t believe it when they look around now at the Domain Tennis Centre.

“It started off very basic,” Ms Richard said. “The seating was concrete and wood, and the corporate boxes were made of scaffolding. It was very simple. Over the 25 years, it has grown to this purposebuild stadium.”

Belgian Kim Clijsters won Hobart as a 16-year-old and went on to become world No. 1 and win four Grand Slam singles titles. In 2003, Alicia Molik became the first Australian to win the Hobart and in 2007 Serena Williams played in Hobart and went on to win the Australian Open two weeks later.

“We all remember Serena Williams losing and she wasn’t very happy,” Ms Richard said.

In 2009, 18-year-old Czech Petra Kvitova claimed Hobart as her first WTA title. She is now a two-time Grand Slam champion.

And reigning Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza, of Spain, came through qualifying to win Hobart as her first WTA title in 2014. She is world No. 3 heading into the Australian Open next week.