Kiki Bertens headlines the Libema Open field

The Dutch player has been among the top-30 for three years now and made a breakthrough run in 2018, entering the top-10 back in October after a slightly slower start of the season. Bertens won the title in Charleston in April and she reached the final in Madrid, losing to Petra Kvitova in three sets after a great fight.

The results were not that good in the following events but there was nothing wrong with her game at Wimbledon, reaching the quarter-final and carrying that form onto the hard court as well, playing in the last eight in Montreal and the final of Cincinnati where she stunned the world no.

1 Simona Halep for the biggest title in a career. Kiki conquered Seoul as well and she earned the place at the WTA Finals for the first time, beating Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka en route to the semi-final where she lost a thrilling encounter against Elina Svitolina.

Being a top-10 player, Bertens can pick to play only three International events during the season and one of them is Libema Open, her only opportunity to compete in front of the home crowd and chase her first title on the fastest surface.