ASB Classic Full Field welcomes five Top 30 players, and world number one doubles pair   26 Nov 2014

NZ Festival of Tennis

Featuring some of the biggest names in world tennis, organisers of the ASB Classic are pleased to announce one of the best fields ever to assemble in Auckland for the tournament. Boasting five Top 30 players, two former world number ones, and the number one ranked doubles team in the world – the ASB Classic Full Field is sure to wow tennis fans this January.

Joining an already-impressive field including Caroline Wozniacki (8), Sara Errani (14), and Venus Williams (18), is Wimbledon quarter-finalist, Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (25). The Czech has had a career best year, reaching two WTA finals in Burmingham and Luxemburg, and the quarter-final at New Haven to add to her Wimbledon success.

Two-time Grand Slam champion and former world number two; Svetlana Kuznetsova (27) will also join the field. The popular Russian, who has amassed more than $18million in prize money, won her 14th career title in Washington this year – impressively, 12 years after her first crown in Bali, 2002.

Other significant signings include American rising star Coco Vandeweghe. The 6’1” 22-year-old delivered on her much-tipped potential in 2014, jumping 71 spots to finish inside the world’s top 40 for the first time in her career, and rewarding tournament organisers for her 2013 wild card.

In addition, Mona Barthel (42) will return to be the eighth seed, as well as 2014 ASB Classic semi-finalist, Kirsten Flipkens(45).

“To have a top ten player in Caroline, a legend in Venus and a further three others in top 30 is a pretty incredible effort considering the competition,” says Tournament Director, Karl Budge.

“There is a real variety in styles, and some pretty tense competition right from the word go!” Budge continues.

Pleasingly, Kiwi number one Marina Erakovic (77) also has made the direct entry list.

“It is great to have Marina playing her home tournament. With her new coach, Marina is primed for a big season and I am really excited to see her kick off her year in front of her fans,” says Budge.

There will also be excitement in the doubles draw with the world number one doubles pair confirmed for the event. Joining her already announced doubles partner, Sara Errani, is 2014 singles top seed Roberta Vinci (47). The pair has been by far the best doubles team in world tennis in recent years, capturing six Grand Slam titles and being runner up in three more. In 2014 alone they have captured an impressive five titles (Australian Open, Madrid, Stuttgart, Wimbledon and Montreal).

“ASB has been helping to bring world class tennis to Auckland for nineteen years,” says Roger Beaumont, ASB’s General Manager of Marketing and Communications.

“With the breadth of talent on offer in the 2015 ASB Classic, New Zealand tennis fans are in for a fantastic opportunity to witness some of the most exciting players in the world in action.”

As ever, the ASB Classic has an eye on the future with some of the most promising talent kicking off their year in Auckland. Joining the already announced up-and-comers Sloane Stephens (36) and 16-year-old Ana Konjuh (91), is winner of WTA’s Rising Stars Tournament in Singapore last month Monica Puig (59). One of the fast risers on the WTA Tour, the Puerto Rican won her first WTA title in 2014 in Strasbourg before being chosen to compete and eventually winning the flagship Season Ending Tournament in Singapore.

Full list of seeded players for the ASB Classic 2015:

1. Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark – 8)

2. Sara Errani (Italy – 14)

3. Venus Williams (USA – 18)

4. Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova (Czeck Republic – 25)

5. Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia – 27)

6. Sloane Stephens (USA – 36)

7. Coco Vandeweghe (USA – 39)

8. Mona Barthel (German – 42)

The 2015 ASB Classic field will offer a truly international line-up, celebrating world-class tennis on the local stage at the NZ Festival of Tennis.

The 2015 ASB Classic runs from January 5-10, 2015 at the ASB Tennis Arena, Auckland

Tickets start at $20 and are available from Ticketek

www.festivaloftennis.co.nz

ends

Add a comment

News

Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students

29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more

New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process

7 Mar 2020 News By Rt HON WINSTON PETERS
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more

Business

NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19

17 Mar 2020 Business News By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more

NZ Government announces aviation relief package

19 Mar 2020 Business News By Hon Phil Twyford
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more

Living

Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London

6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall. It was the first... more

Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate

12 Jan 2022 Arts By Charlotte Everett
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...  New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more

Property

Fairer rules for tenants and landlords

17 Nov 2019 Property By Minister Kris Faafoi
17 NOVEMBER 2019 The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more

New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax

17 Apr 2019 Property By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more

Migration

Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued

19 Nov 2019 Migration By Hon Iain Lees-Galloway
19 NOVEMBER 2019 We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more

Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location

18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018 HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more

Travel

Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more

New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas

19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas more

Sport

The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners

27 Oct 2019 Cricket By Charlotte Everett
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more

PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final

26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more

Columns

Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade

11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade First published on Werewolf The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more

Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome

10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell   Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more

Kiwi Success

Congratulations to Loder Cup winner

26 Sep 2018 People By Hon Eugenie Sage
25 SEPTEMBER 2018 The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more

Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO

16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO HON JENNY SALESA Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more

Recruitment

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

14 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more

Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers

22 Aug 2018 Recruitment By RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers RT HON JACINDA ARDERN HON CHRIS HIPKINS Prime Minister The... more