In what is expected to be a fantastic kickoff to the 2015 season, eight Grand Slam champions are scheduled to commence their seasons at the Brisbane International this coming year.

17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic , reigning US Open champion Marin Cilic and Grigor Dimitrov lead the men’s draw, while Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic , Sam Stosur and Victoria Azarenka will be the main attractions in the women’s draw.

Defending champion Lleyton Hewitt will also return in front of his fellow countrymen.

“We’re thrilled with the calibre of the fields we have assembled for this summer’s event, the tournament continues to grow each year and 2015 is shaping up as one of our best yet,” he said. “It’s fantastic to welcome Roger Federer back to Brisbane as well as our men’s defending champion Lleyton Hewitt, newly-crowned Grand Slam champion Marin Cilic and crowd favourites Grigor Dimitrov and Bernard Tomic.

“Each year the event attracts many of the world’s top women and 2015 will be no exception, with Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Sam Stosur, Victoria Azarenka and many more big names set to compete.”

The official fields are as follows:

Men

[2] Roger Federer (SUI)*
[5] Kei Nishikori (JPN)
[7] Juan Martin del Potro (ARG)* – Injury protected ranking
[8] Milos Raonic (CAN)
[9] Marin Cilic (CRO)*
[11] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)
[16] Kevin Anderson (RSA)
[21] Gilles Simon (FRA)
[23] Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR)
[25] Julien Benneteau (FRA)
[27] Jurgen Melzer (AUT) – Injury protected ranking
[29] Jeremy Chardy (FRA)
[34] Martin Klizan (SVK)
[35] Sam Querrey (USA)
[37] Steve Johnson (USA)
[50] Lleyton Hewitt (SA)*
[56] Bernard Tomic (Qld)
[57] Donald Young (USA)
[70] Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ)
[72] Carlos Berlocq (ARG)
[73] Jarkko Nieminen (FIN)

Women

[2] Maria Sharapova (RUS)*
[5] Ana Ivanovic (SRB)*
[9] Angelique Kerber (GER)
[10] Dominika Cibulkova (SVK)
[13] Andrea Petkovic (GER)
[15] Jelena Jankovic (SRB)
[17] Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP)
[20] Garbine Muguruza (ESP)
[22] Sam Stosur (Qld)*
[23] Karolina Pliskova (CZE)
[26] Sabine Lisicki (GER)
[28] Elina Svitolina (UKR)
[30] Madison Keys (USA)
[31] Victoria Azarenka (BLR)*
[34] Camila Giorgi (ITA)
[35] Varvara Lepchenko (USA)
[37] Caroline Garcia (FRA)
[38] Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL)
[43] Alison Riske (USA)
[50] Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK)
[51] Kaia Kanepi (EST)
[52] Christina McHale (USA)

* denotes Grand Slam champion
All rankings as at 24 November 2014

The Brisbane International begins Sunday 4 January at the Queensland Tennis Centre.