Former world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki and fast-serving John Isner are the latest players to be confirmed for the upcoming ASB Classic in January.
The New Zealand tournament will get underway 0n the 4th January for the women followed by the men’s draw a week later on the 11th. The men’s tournament was formerly known as the Heineken Open but a change in sponsor’s has lead to the event changing it’s name to the same as the women’s.
Wozniacki will kick off her 2016 season at the event for the third time in her career after 2009 and 2015. During this year’s tournament she reached the final of the event before losing in three sets to Venus Williams. Speaking about returning to the Auckland tournament, the Danish player is hoping for a rematch against Williams in 2016.
It’s one of my favourite tournaments and a great way to start the year,” she said. “Last year I made it all the way to the finals to play Venus and hopefully we can get a rematch.” Said Wozniacki.
The list of players for the tournament is yet to be announced as Williams and Wozniacki remain the only two confirmed players. This year there were 11 top 50 players playing in the event which also included Sara Errani, Barbora Strycova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Sloane Stephens. Tournament director Karl Budge has revealed to stuff.co.nz, there he is currently in negotiations with Ana Ivanovic to persuade her to join the field.
“I don’t think it’s out of the question. We’re having those conversations, I was talking to her just this morning, and we’re doing everything we can to try to make it happen.”. Budge said about Ivanovic potentially coming to Auckland.
In the men’s draw John Isner will return to the city where he won his first ATP title back in 2010. The 2016 tournament will be Isner’s fifth appearance in Auckland since 2009. After winning the title for the second time in 2014, the world No.11 withdrew from this year’s event due to tiredness. Isner said that he hopes to make up for his absence at the 2016 tournament.
“I have so many great memories and I’m sad I missed the tournament this year, but next year I’m going to make it up to all those that come to watch,“. Isner said.
Isner will also be joined in the tournament by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who will play in the New Zealand tournament for the first time in his career.
