Britain’s Emma Raducanu is the latest player to be announced for this summer’s ASB Classic, while Kiwi Erin Routliffe has confirmed she will partner with Gaby Dabrowski for the tournament, which starts on December 30.
Raducanu joins an already impressive lineup for the women’s Classic, which includes Naomi Osaka and Lulu Sun.
The fact that Raducanu has made New Zealand her regular place to begin a season, isn’t something that would have been expected when she was publicly critical of the tournament in 2023, after picking up an injury playing a match on an indoor court.
But she clearly enjoys herself in Auckland and it’s become a key part of her buildup for the Australian Open.
“The people are very friendly and very hospitable,” Raducanu said.
“I always have a great time there. The weather, when it is nice, is really beautiful.
“One of my best friends lives in Auckland and her family do too, so I think I will be there for Christmas Day.
Raducanu needed a wildcard to play at the Classic this year, with her world ranking at 301 at that stage.
She’ll return at 58 after a year which may have not reached the dizzying heights of 2021 when she won the US Open, but it was a season of progress following an injury-riddled 2023.
At the Classic she put up an impressive fight in her 6-7 7-6 6-1 defeat to Elina Svitolina and went on to have wins over Jessica Pegula, Sloane Stephens and Linda Noskova.
But Wimbledon was the most significant tournament of year for Raducanu. She played scintillating tennis to defeat Elise Mertens and Maria Sakkari, but then lost to New Zealand’s Lulu Sun on Centre Court.
She also controversially brought an abrupt end to Andy Murray’s career when she pulled out of the mixed doubles draw ahead of the match against Sun.
She decided not to play the Olympics and lost in the first round at the US Open, so her year fizzled out after that, although she will be representing Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup this week. But there have been enough signs that she can mix it with the world’s best again.
“Mentally I feel like I am in a better place to compete now than I ever have been since the US Open,” she said.
“It’s going to probably take me some tournaments to get up to speed but once I do, I think I am in a better head space to compete now.”
Meanwhile, for the first time Routliffe and Dabrowski, who recently won the season ending WTA Finals, will compete together at the Classic.
Dabrowski usually prefers to not play in the first week of the season, but the Canadian has agreed to come to New Zealand to team up with her regular partner.
Winning the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last weekend capped off another great year for Routliffe, which also included reaching the final at Wimbledon, a spell at No 1 in the world rankings and winning her first WTA 1000 title, in Cincinnati.
“Two years ago, if you told me this was happening, I would not have believed you,” Routliffe said.
“It’s a testament to years and years of working and learning myself and what works for me. Having people around me that believe in me no matter what. Gaby taking a chance on me when my ranking was probably not as high as she would have liked in our partnership.
“I will never forget that and I don’t take any of it for granted. It’s been a quick rise to the top of the game. I’m excited for more.”
The final women’s field for the ASB Classic will be announced in the first week of December.
