INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA, USA – Former World No.5 Daniela Hantuchova has earned a wildcard into the main draw of the upcoming BNP Paribas Open. Other wildcard entrants will include Australian Open quarterfinalist Zhang Shuai, Heather Watson, and Americans Shelby Rogers, Samantha Crawford, Lauren Davis, Alison Riske, and Jamie Loeb.

The Slovak made her big breakthrough back in 2002 when she upset Martina Hingis for the title, and came back in 2007 to win a second time – defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final. Hantuchova also reached the semifinals of the Australian Open back in 2008, but with her ranking currently outside the Top 100, the seven-time WTA titlist could not enter the main draw without a wildcard.

Joining Hantuchova in the main draw is Zhang Shuai, the Chinese No.2 who enjoyed a Cinderella run to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open; a qualifier in Melbourne, she won her first-ever Grand Slam main draw match in emphatic fashion when she dismissed then-World No.2 Simona Halep in straight sets. Zhang took that momentum all the way into the final eight, where she fell to Johanna Konta; far from a one week wonder, she took turned that form and momentum into a title run last week at an ITF Challenger in Rancho Santa Fe.

Watson enjoyed a solid start to the year by reaching the quarterfinals of the Hobart International as defending champion, and is currently in the quarterfinals of the Abierto Monterrey Afirme – one of three Brits to reach WTA quarterfinals this week, and the largest number since 1978.

Of the five Americans awarded wildcards, Samantha Crawford raced into the semifinals of the Brisbane International as a qualifier, while Shelby Rogers recently reached the finals of the Rio Open – falling to former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone in straight sets. Alison Riske started 2016 brightly with a run to the finals of the Shenzhen Open, and Lauren Davis pushed former No.1 Maria Sharapova to three sets at the Australian Open. Finally, former NCAA champion Jamie Loeb has played solid tennis on the Challenger level, reaching the quarterfinals of a 100K and winning a 25K.

Read more about the wildcards set to play Indian Wells here.

All photos courtesy of Getty Images.