Former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic from Serbia will make her second appearance for the Pattaya Open next year. The 2013 WTA PTT Pattaya Open has been moved to a new date and the prize money has been increased to US$235,000.
The winner of the tournament, which will be played at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Pattaya from Jan 27-Feb 3, will receive a winner's cheque of US$40,000 and 280 ranking points.
Ivanovic is currently ranked No.13 in the world. In 2012, she began to find the form which took her to the No.1 spot in 2008 and is hoping to add to her titles at Pattaya next year.
Another form player entering the tournament is Maria Kirilenko of Russia. She reached the final of the PTT Pattaya Open this year losing narrowly to Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia.
Kirilenko finished the 2012 season ranked at No.14 in the world in singles and No.7 in the world in doubles. Her doubles achievements included winning the season-ending WTA Championship.
Making her fifth successive appearance in Pattaya is crowd favourite Vera Zvonareva. Zvonareva's 2012 season has been blighted by injury, which has kept her out of competitive tennis since Wimbledon. She has now returned to fitness and will be eager to complete a hat-trick of titles at Pattaya next year.
Also making a return to Pattaya is the Sabine Lisicki. Like Zvonareva, her season was marred by injuries, but she still ended the season ranked at No.37 in the world on the back of good performances at Wimbledon, where she reached the quarter-final.
With entries for the tournament not closing until Dec 17, many more leading players are expected to join the PTT Pattaya Open which is celebrating its 22nd anniversary in 2013.