Six of the top 10 women's players will compete in the Brisbane International on Sunday but arguably all eyes will be on the men's draw as Swiss superstar Roger Federer makes his tournament debut.
Seventeen-time grand slam winner Federer could possibly be playing in Australia for the last time if he decides to call an end to his glittering career at the end of 2014.
Critics are part of the tennis game, and they will be the last ones to put me out of the game I still have a lot to do
The 32-year-old former world number one slipped to number six in the rankings at the end of 2013 following a mid-season back injury and a series of disappointing results, particularly in the grand slams.
After losing to Andy Murray in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, Federer was beaten by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros.
Federer then suffered a shock second-round loss to world number 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky at Wimbledon before bowing out in the fourth round of the US Open to Spaniard Tommy Robredo.
He won just one title in 2013, and failed to make a major final for the first time since 2002.