WTA and ATP stars travel to Hawaii for debut exhibition

The 2019 season season has come early for some ATP and WTA players. The Hawaii Tennis Open kicked off just before Christmas.

The three-day event helped some top men and women prepare for the long year ahead.

On Saturday, the event held a charity session to benefit Hawaii Volcano disaster relief organizations. In on-court action, Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori made it to the final, but it was the world No. 9 who came out ahead, 7-6, 7-6.

On the women's side, Elise Mertens and Eugenie Bouchard faced off for the trophy and it was Mertens who triumphed in a hard-fought marathon, 2-6, 7 -5, 12-10.

Bouchard showed off her renewed form throughout the tournament, defeating Garbine Muguruza and Coco Vandeweghe in straight sets on her way to the final. While the Canadian hasn't been a major threat in recent seasons, Bouchard's wins may foreshadow good things ahead.

On Christmas, Bouchard landed in Auckland to get a head start. On top of working hard during the offseason and in Hawaii, the former world No. 5 had some fun as she headed to the horse races to be a fashion show judge.

"I feel like the end of 2018 was a little bit of a turning point," Bouchard told Australia's Radio Sports Breakfast at the Ellerslie Races. "I'm really excited to play, I'm really motivated. That's something I've struggled with in the past."

The 24-year-old is currently ranked No. 87.

The Hawaii Open is one of many first stops for players returning to competition after a heavy offseason. Another three-day exhibition begins on Thursday in Abu Dhabi, with the Hopman Cup starting soon after.

**Hopman Cup (Sat - Sat 12.29 - 1.5)

•    Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev, Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber headline the Hopman Cup. Watch live coverage on Tennis Channel Plus beginning Saturday 12/29 at 9:00pm ET.**

**ATP/WTA Brisbane (Sun - Sun 12.30 - 1.6)

•    Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Naomi Osaka and Sloane Stephens open their 2019 seasons in Brisbane. Live coverage from three courts begins on Tennis Channel Plus on Sunday 12/30 at 8:00pm ET.**

**WTA Auckland (Sun - Sun 12.30 - 1.6)

•    Catch the action from the ASB Classic including Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki. Live coverage begins on Tennis Channel Plus on Sunday 12/30 at 8:00pm ET.**

**WTA Shenzhen (Sat - Sat 12.29 - 1.5)

•    Watch first to last ball action from the Shenzhen Open featuring Maria Sharapova and Jelena Ostapenko beginning Saturday 12/29 at 11:00pm ET.**

**ATP Pune (Mon - Sat 12.31 - 1.5)

•    Watch Kevin Anderson, Marin Cilic and Hyeon Chung live from Pune starting Monday 12/31 at 6:30am ET.**