American Alycia Parks, coming off a splendid run at the ASB Classic in Auckland last week, and seasoned campaigner Tatjana Maria of Germany will lead a quality field at the $100,000 KPB Trust ITF Open that begins at the KSLTA courts here on January 21.

In all, 20 players, including defending champion Draja Semenistaja, from 17 countries have got a direct entry into the biggest ITF World Tennis Tour event globally during the entire first quarter of 2025. The winner of the upgraded W100 tournament will take home $15,239 and 100 ranking points.

The 20 direct entrants will be joined by four wildcards, which will be announced soon, and eight qualifiers in the 32-player field. The qualifying rounds will be held on January 19 and 20 and the main draw will begin on January 21.

Ankita Raina, the top-ranked Indian, is the only one from the country among the 27 qualifiers as per the acceptance list. Other Indians, including Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, Sahaja Yamalapalli, Vaidehi Chaudhari and Rutuja Bhosale, figure among the alternates.

Parks, ranked No. 68 in the world, made a brilliant run in Auckland last week before losing to former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka in the semifinals. Known for her big serve, Parks matched Venus Williams’ record for the fastest serve by a woman (207.6-kmph) at the 2021 US Open. The 24-year-old, winner of one WTA Tour title and five Challenger titles, is credited with wins over a couple of top-10 players.

Maria, who is in the main draw of the Australian Open, too has wins over top-10 players. The 37-year-old had made the semifinals of Wimbledon three years ago, becoming the first mother of two to make the last-four stage of a Grand Slam since Margaret Court in 1975. For her performance that year, Maria, winner of three WTA Tour singles titles, was voted the WTA Comeback Player of the Year.

The German veteran, ranked No. 89 currently, is likely to keep the young hopefuls at bay in the biggest-ever ITF event in the country.

Main draw entrants (world ranking in brackets): 1. Alycia Parks (US, No. 68), 2. Tatjana Maria (Ger, No. 89); 3. Maria Lourdes Carle (Arg, No. 96); 4. Rebecca Marino (Can, No. 98); 5. Harriet Dart (GBR, No 113); 6. Darja Semenistaja (Lat, No. 120); 7. Mananchaya Sawangkaew (Thai, No. 127); 8. Maria Timofeeva (Rus, No. 136); 9. Nao Hibino (Jpn, No. 143); 10. Alexandra Eala (Phi, No. 138); 11. Leolia Jeanjean (Fra, No. 149); 12. Sara Saito (Jpn, No. 158); 13. Sara Bejlek (Cze, No. 156); 14: Panna Udvardy (Hun, No. 157); 15. Mai Hontama (Jpn, No. 161); 16. Kathinka von Deichmann (Lie, No. 162); 17. Arianne Hartono (Ned, No. 164); 18. Laura Pigossi (Bra, No. 165); 19. Simona Waltert (Sui, No, 168); 20. Alina Korneeva (Rus, No. 177).