Mertens returns to defend Hobart title

Belgium's Elise Mertens will compete in next year's Hobart International, which features four woman ranked inside the world's top 40.

Hobart International 2017 tennis champion Elise Mertens from Belgium after winning the title. (AAP)

Defending Hobart International champion Elise Mertens is one of three former winners returning to next month's tennis event.

The 22-year-old Belgian claimed her maiden WTA title as a qualifier at last year's tournament and went on to crack the world's top 40 in a breakthrough season.

Mertens (No. 36) is the second highest-ranked player in the field behind 2016 Australian Open quarterfinalist Zhang Shuai (35).

Previous Hobart winners Mona Barthel and former world No. 11 Alize Cornet will also compete in the Australian Open lead-up event.

Cornet is one of four top-40 ranked women alongside Zhang, Mertens and Romania's Sorana Cirstea (37).

The tournament begins on January 7.