Halep, Kvitova to play in Sydney International

Sydney: World number three Simona Halep and Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will headline the Sydney International women`s field in January, organisers said on Saturday.

Halep, this year`s French Open runner-up to Maria Sharapova, and world number four Kvitova will be joined by the sixth-ranked player and Australian Open semi-finalist Agnieszka Radwanska.

Halep, 23, lost in the first round of this year`s Sydney International to American Madison Keys and is hoping to make Sydney her ninth WTA title.

"I haven`t won a WTA tournament in Australia yet so it would be the perfect start to the year if I could win in Sydney," the Romanian said.

Kvitova lost to eventual champion Tsvetana Pironkova in the last Sydney event and went on to win her second Wimbledon championship as well as claiming titles in Wuhan and New Haven.

The Sydney International takes place at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre from January 11 to 17.