Bouchard rounds out Classic field
WELLINGTON: One of the most recognisable names in women’s tennis has signed on for Auckland’s ASB Classic this summer.
Tournament director Karl Budge has unveiled his full field for the tournament beginning on New Year’s Eve and it features 24yearold Canadian Eugenie Bouchard.
She will join the likes of returning grand slam champions Caroline Wozniacki, Venus Williams and Victoria Azarenka.
Bouchard is a former Wimbledon finalist who has been as high as No 5 in the world.
‘‘Genie is icing on the cake of what is going to be an incredible women’s field this year,’’ Budge said.
‘‘Three former world number 1s, three grand slam champions, our defending champion and now one of the biggest names in the sport, it is going to be huge.’’
‘‘It will give us an opening round like we’ve never seen before. I am not sure we have had star power like that in one session as early as this before.’’
Bouchard, a former world No 1ranked junior, played in Auckland as an 18yearold wildcard in 2013 after winning Junior Wimbledon in 2012, and the following year she reached grand slam semifinals at the Australian Open and Roland Garros before losing to Petra Kvitova in a one sided Wimbledon final.
But since that breakthrough season, Bouchard’s stocks have plummeted and her ranking slipped out of the top 100 in January for the first time since 2013. She has fought back to her current position of 88.