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Both Gavrilova and Hon have missed chunks of tennis during the pandemic due to injury.

Gavrilova, a former world No.20, hasn’t played since this year’s Australian Open after having Achilles surgery.

“I feel honoured to be part of the Australian squad,” said Gavrilova.

“My recovery has been a long process. I’ve definitely had my ups and downs. I’ve spent a lot of time alone in the gym, firstly because of the restrictions in Victoria, and also that all my team-mates have been away playing.”

No.43 Ajla Tomljanovic headlines Australia’s squad after world No.1 Ashleigh Barty ended her season early, also deciding to miss the WTA Finals in Mexico next month.

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Led by captain Alicia Molik, Australia’s squad includes Tomljanovic, Storm Sanders, debutant Ellen Perez and Olivia Gadecki, Gavrilova and Hon.

Elsewhere, the Kooyong Classic - an exhibition event held in Melbourne catering for players seeking match-time on the eve of the Australian Open - has been cancelled for 2022 due to the lingering uncertainty around the summer tennis calendar.

International tennis stands to return to Sydney in the summer, with Victoria and NSW both firming to share the lead-up events for January’s Australian Open.

Details are still being thrashed out by tennis officials, but compared to the situation last January when all lead-up events were played in Melbourne ahead of the Open – rescheduled to February after reduced quarantine conditions were negotiated for inbound players – this summer is expected to resemble a standard Australian calendar.

While the issue of mandatory vaccination for international stars continues to be a thorny issue, the modified quarantine requirements coming into NSW and Victoria should allow tennis officials to stage Australian Open qualifying at Melbourne Park as normal, instead of hosting it in the Middle East - as was the case last December.

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