Auckland ‘perfect start to season’
Double Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka believes Auckland is the perfect place to kick off her 2018 season after a interrupted
2017 campaign.
The former world No 1 has been confirmed as one of the wildcard recipients for January’s ASB Classic.
Having played just two tournaments this year, the 28-yearold’s ranking has dropped to 205, with the season being a write of because of a legal battle with the father of her one-year-old son, Leo.
With the custody issues over her son believed to be sorted by the time the Classic begins, on
‘‘I am very much looking forward to getting back on the court to compete in January and I can’t think of a better place to start the
2018 season than in Auckland,’’ Azarenka said.
Azarenka previously played at the Classic in 2006, losing the second round to Maria Kirilenko.
She has only played six matches this year, two at Birmingham in the UK and four at Wimbledon, where she eventually lost to the No
2 seed, Simona Halep 7-6 6-2. Her appearance in Auckland will be the first time she’s played since Wimbledon, so not too much should be expected from her, although traditionally she does start the year well.
Despite her low current ranking, she is one of the genuine big names around the world in women’s tennis, as is also the case for the tournament’s top seed
Caroline Wozniacki, who is ranked No 3 in the world.
The full field for the women’s tournament was unveiled yesterday, with German Julia Goerges announced as the second seed, with Barbora Strycova and
Agnieszka Radwanska rounding out the top four.
The other seeds will be Mona Barthel, defending champion Lauren Davis, Yulia Putintseva, and Donna Vekic.
Ana Konjuh won’t be returning next year, having played in the tournament the previous four years. Marina Erakovic is expected to receive one of the other wildcards
While there are the big three names in the tournament Wozniacki, Azarenka and Radwanska, there isn’t as much depth in the field for next year, with the last direct acceptance being Polona Hercog from Slovenia, who is ranked 101.