Classic could be Wozniacki’s last

Karl Budge admits next year could be the last chance to see Caroline Wozniacki at the ASB Classic.

The tournament director for the WTA event announced the full field yesterday, with Wozniacki confirmed along with other former grand slam winners, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Jelena Ostapenko. They join Bianca Andreescu, Serena Wiliams and Coco Gauff in an impressive lineup.

Wozniacki, 29, has been contemplating retirement as she continues to battle rheumatoid arthritis.

Her brother, Patrik Wozniacki told Danish TV earlier this month that she will play in Auckland and the Australian Open, but wasn’t sure what else after that.

If 2020 is to be her farewell tour, then it’s only fitting that the ASB Classic is part of it, although Budge says he was unsure of what her future plans were.

‘‘I don’t know. I think Caroline has got some decisions to make, but we’re delighted that she’s going to be here,’’ Budge said.

‘‘She’s been such a loyal servant and personally I can’t speak highly enough of her.’’

Next year will be the sixth in a row that Wozniacki has started her season off by playing in Auckland.

Wozniacki along with Venus Williams was the player who helped take the Classic to another level as a tournament, and her commitment to it helped encourage other leading players that New Zealand was a good place to come to.

‘‘If I could choose anyone to win the title next year, it would be great for Caroline to raise the trophy, because it’s probably deserved,’’ Budge said.

While Wozniacki is back again, Venus Williams is going to Brisbane, with the

39-year-old deciding to go to the higher level WTA tournament where more ranking points are available.

One of the dark horses for January’s Classic will be the Latvian Ostapenko, who won the French Open two years ago.

After her win on the clay in Paris, she reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2018, but this year she bombed out in the first round at three of the grand slams and her ranking has dropped to 45 in the world.

‘‘You’ve got to remember that Ostapenko is still only 22 and most of the players now aren’t maturing until they’re in their late 20s to get that consistency,’’ Budge said of Ostapenko.

Another player to watch will be Daria Kasatkina, who has been as high as No 10 in the world but has dropped to 69.

‘‘She came through with Ana Konjuh and Belinda Bencic,’’ Budge said of the Russian.

‘‘She was someone you saw and thought ‘wow this girl is going to be good’. I watched her beat Konjuh at the US Open four years ago and that was the first time I saw her live.

‘‘She came out here the following year and beat Venus Williams on Centre Court. Then went on to win the Kremlin Cup and break into the top 10.’’

The women’s ASB Classic starts on January 6.