ASB Auckland Classic 2015

Hoergren

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Let's have a look at one of the tournaments starting the WTA 2015 season next week

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ASB Auckland Classic (currently sponsored by the bank ASB) is a women's tennis tournament held in Auckland, New Zealand. Held since 1986 and the WTA Tour event is an international series tournament and is played on outdoor hardcourts. It is the 30th edition of the WTA Tournament that takes place in the first week of the year, a week before another ASB Tennis Centre event, Auckland Open for men. An earlier version of the Auckland Open was held from 1976 to 1981.

In 2008, the tournament, the courts were converted into a blue plexicushion surface, replacing the green Rebound Ace. This was in line with the surface modification, which was also implemented at the Australian Open. It is therefore a good pre tournament for the Australian Open, and therefore a good choice of Caroline Wozniacki to start there.

There is usually only one top player from the top 10 attending in an international tournament, and the top 10 players can only participate in one international tournament per. half year, so Caroline can not participate in other international tournaments before July 1. An international tournament currently has $ 250,000 in prize money and a score of 280 to the winner.

In addition to prize money top players also get a so-called "appearence fee" or presence money to choose the tournament. These amounts are usually not mentioned, but a well known issue.

Besides that it can be private sponsors that provide special gifts for a top player. It may be as part of the launch of a new product, as it is in the case Caroline Wozniacki where she will be gifted with a $ 15,000 gold and diamond bracelet to play in Auckland.

The former world No. 1 is the most important player participating in the ASB Classic from 5 to 10 January. The bracelet is a collaboration between the sponsor Moet & Chandon and New Zealand master jewelers Naveya & Sloane, who launches a tennis collection. The bracelet is made from 18 carat gold and has 42 diamonds weighing a total of five carats.

Wozniacki, 24, is a great admirer of fashion and has worked with the designer Stella McCartney on her sports equipment since they made a deal in 2009. Her most famous piece of jewelry is a massive diamond engagement ring, given to her by the Irish golfer Rory McIlroy. It is estimated to be some $ 250,000 worth, McIlroy has reportedly allowed Wozniacki to keep the ring after he called off their wedding.

Last year's winner Ana Ivanovic does not participate but finalist Venus Williams, who is ranked at 18th place, participating as third seeded. Besides these two top players there are a few other names that may be interesting to follow: Sara Errani (# 14), Svetlana Kuznetsova (# 27) and Sloane Stephens (# 36).

More about the draw and schedule of play later this week. Have a Happy New Year.
 

sk310

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It looks like Caro is itching to start the season. I see she's also signed up for Sydney. I wish she wasn't. I always get a little frustrated when top players play the week before a slam. It seems so counterintuitive to me.
 

Hoergren

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Complete entrylist - only players missing is wildcards and qualifiers

1. 08 Caroline Wozniacki DEN:D
2. 14 Sara Errani ITA:D
3. 18 Venus Williams USA:D
4. 25 Barbora Zahlavova Strycova CZE
5. 36 Sloane Stephens USA
6. 27 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS
7. 39 Coco Vandeweghe USA
8. 42 Mona Barthel GER
9. 44 Kurumi Nara JPN
10. 45 Kirsten Flipkens BEL
11. 47 Roberta Vinci ITA
12. 55 Lauren Davis USA
13. 56 Jana Cepelova SVK
14. 59 Monica Puig PUR
15. 63 Daniela Hantuchova SVK
16. 64 Elena Vesnina RUS
17. 66 Silvia Soler-Espinosa ESP
18. 67 Kristina Mladenovic FRA
19. 68 Kiki Bertens NED
20. 70 Johanna Jenny Larsson SWE
21. 73 Shelby Rogers USA
22. 75 Julia Goerges GER
23. 76 Yanina Wickmayer BEL
24. 77 Marina Erakovic NZL
25. 92 Ana Konjuh (WC) Croatia
 

MargaretMcAleer

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BTW still no news regarding Sloane Stephen's and her new coach for 2015.
 

colleen66

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Nice field. There are a few players there that I am very interested in for the 2015 season. Can Caro maintain the momentum she had at the end of the 2014 year? What shape (mentally and physically) will Sloane be in? Coco won a title last year, will she not have an early exit? It is always great to see Sveta in the draw, will she go all the way?
 

shawnbm

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I'm a little surprised garbiñe is not in this field.
 

Hoergren

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Qualifying in Auckland - here is the schedule for Saturday 3.January

Centre

[WC] Rosie CHENG (NZL) vs Misa EGUCHI (JPN)
[WC] Katherine WESTBURY (NZL) vs Lucie HRADECKA (CZE)
[WC] Jade LEWIS (NZL) vs Laura SIEGEMUND (GER)
Nicole GIBBS (USA) vs Yuliya BEYGELZIMER (UKR)
An-Sophie MESTACH (BEL) vs [WC] Sacha JONES (AUS)
Andrea HLAVACKOVA (CZE) vs Sharon FICHMAN (CAN)

Grandstand

Alison VAN UYTVANCK (BEL) vs Renata VORACOVA (CZE)
Ons JABEUR (TUN) vs Claire FEUERSTEIN (FRA)
Julia GLUSHKO (ISR) vs Yulia PUTINTSEVA (KAZ)
Shuko AOYAMA (JPN) vs Sesil KARATANTCHEVA (BUL)
Mandy MINELLA (LUX) vs Barbora KREJCIKOVA (CZE)

Court 2

Alexa GLATCH (USA) vs María IRIGOYEN (ARG)
Grace MIN (USA) vs Petra MARTIC (CRO)
Naomi BROADY (GBR) vs Kateryna KOZLOVA (UKR)
Anett KONTAVEIT (EST) vs Urszula RADWANSKA (POL)
Louisa CHIRICO (USA) vs Anna TATISHVILI (USA)
 

Hoergren

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As shown on WTA homepage
Find out where your favorite player is preparing for the Aussie Open right here:
1. Serena Williams - Hopman Cup*
2. Maria Sharapova - Brisbane
3. Simona Halep - Shenzhen, Sydney
4. Petra Kvitova - Shenzhen, Sydney
5. Ana Ivanovic - Brisbane
6. Agnieszka Radwanska - Hopman Cup*, Sydney
7. Eugenie Bouchard - Hopman Cup*
8. Caroline Wozniacki - Auckland, Sydney
9. Angelique Kerber - Brisbane, Sydney
10. Dominika Cibulkova - Brisbane, Sydney
11. Ekaterina Makarova - Sydney
12. Flavia Pennetta - Hopman Cup*, Sydney
13. Andrea Petkovic - Brisbane, Sydney
14. Sara Errani - Auckland, Sydney
15. Jelena Jankovic - Brisbane
16. Lucie Safarova - Hopman Cup*, Sydney
17. Carla Suárez Navarro - Brisbane, Sydney
18. Venus Williams - Auckland
19. Alizé Cornet - Hopman Cup*, Sydney
20. Garbiñe Muguruza - Brisbane, Sydney
 

Hoergren

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The main draw is out for Auckland:

(1)Caroline Wozniacki v Quali
Yanina Wickmayer v Taylor Townsend(wc)
Julia Goerges v Quali
Quali v (5)Svetlana Kuznetsova

(4)Barbora Zahlavova Strycova v Chani Scheepers
Monica Puig v Marina Erakovic
Kirsten Flipkens v Johanna Larsson
Roberta Vinci v (7)Coco Vandeweghe

(8)Mona Barthel v Ana Konjuh(wc)
Elena Vesnina v Kristina Mladenovic
Kiki Bertens v Kunami Nara
Jana Cepelova v (3)Venus Williams

(6)Sloane Stephens v Silvia Soler-Espinosa
Shelby Rogers v Lauren Davis
Quali v Francesca Schiavone(wc)
Daniela Hantuchova v (2)Sara Errani

Interesting - could be a final between Caroline and Venus.
 

Hoergren

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Caroline with her new jewelry - the bracelet on her right wrist

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And here you can see a video of the jewelry (the bracelet on her right wrist - watch the video it's nice) and also see what Venus Williams learned about the KIWI culture ;)

http://tvnz.co.nz/tennis-news/two-asb-classic-stars-enjoy-new-zealand-video-6214190
 

Hoergren

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Schedule with results Monday, January 05, 2015

Matches marked Q is qualification - the rest is 1st round or doubles

Centre
10:00 Sesil Karatantcheva (BUL) V Urszula Radwanska (POL) Q 26 46
12:00 Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) V Taylor Townsend (USA) 57 63 06
14:00 [6] Sloane Stephens (USA) V Sílvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) 63 61
16:00 Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) V [2] Sara Errani (ITA) 63 62
18:30 [8] Mona Barthel (GER) V Ana Konjuh (CRO) 26 16
20:30 Marina Erakovic / Monica Puig (NZL / PUR) V María Irigoyen / Barbora Krejcikova (ARG / CZE) 64 67 11-9

Grandstand
10:00 Claire Feuerstein (FRA) V Julia Glushko (ISR) Q 14 ret
12:00 Shelby Rogers (USA) V Lauren Davis (USA) 61 46 36
14:00 Kiki Bertens (NED) V Kurumi Nara (JPN) 36 26
17:00 [4] Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) V Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) 61 36 62

Court 2
10:00 Lucie Hradecka (CZE) V [7] Misa Eguchi (JPN) Q 63 16 76
11:30 Anna Tatishvili (USA) V Mandy Minella (LUX) Q 46 60 60
13:30 [3] Julia Goerges / Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER / GER) V Kateryna Bondarenko / Olga Savchuk (UKR / UKR) 76 46 10-5
15:30 Gabriela Dabrowski / Alicja Rosolska (CAN / POL) V Nicole Melichar / Laura Siegemund (USA / GER) 46 64 9-11

Tennistv.com is showing matches else try
http://www.drakulastream.eu/tennis-live-streaming-video.html
 

Correspondent Kiu

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Dani has a 5-4 record against Sara, they are about to start.

Sloane was strong today, did not allow a break of serve.
10177901_415868898571707_6136081413576640413_n_700x500.jpg
 

Hoergren

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Sloane 2.0 is underway and Errani is slumping.

B6jdWxaCUAAZJJD.jpg:large

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Post match interview with Sloane
http://www.festivaloftennis.co.nz/asbclassic/news/sloane-stephens-ready-second-round-battle-against-fellow-american-lauren-davis
 

Hoergren

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Order of play Tuesday 6. January

CENTRE
Starting at: 12:00
[Q] Urszula RADWANSKA (POL) vs Francesca SCHIAVONE (ITA) 64 75
[Q] Lucie HRADECKA (CZE) vs Svetlana KUZNETSOVA (RUS) [5] 36 76 64
Jana CEPELOVA (SVK) vs Venus WILLIAMS (USA) [3] 16 06
Not Before 18:30
Caroline WOZNIACKI (DEN) [1] vs [Q] Julia GLUSHKO (ISR) 63 62:)
Monica PUIG (PUR) vs Marina ERAKOVIC (NZL) 67 62 46

GRANDSTAND
Starting at: 12:00
Roberta VINCI (ITA) vs CoCo VANDEWEGHE (USA) [7] 75 26 36
Elena VESNINA (RUS) vs Kristina MLADENOVIC (FRA) 76 62
Kirsten FLIPKENS (BEL) vs Johanna LARSSON (SWE) 76 16 76
Not Before 17:00
Sara ERRANI (ITA)/Roberta VINCI (ITA) [1] vs Yuliya BEYGELZIMER (UKR)/Eva HRDINOVA (CZE) 26 62 10-1
Sharon FICHMAN (CAN)/Maria SANCHEZ (USA) vs Shuko AOYAMA (JPN)/Renata VORACOVA (CZE) [4] 67 26

COURT 2
Starting at: 12:00
Julia GOERGES (GER) vs [Q] Anna TATISHVILI (USA) 61 64
Not Before 13:30
Mona BARTHEL (GER)/Mandy MINELLA (LUX) vs Darija JURAK (CRO)/Megan MOULTON-LEVY (USA) 36 76 5-10
After suitable rest
Petra MARTIC (CRO)/Anna TATISHVILI (USA) vs [WC] Rosie CHENG (NZL)/Katherine WESTBURY (NZL) 60 62
After suitable rest
Daniela HANTUCHOVA (SVK)/Francesca SCHIAVONE (ITA) vs Andrea HLAVACKOVA (CZE)/Lucie HRADECKA (CZE) [2] 46 46

Here is a picture of the bracelet Caroline got in Auckland
Woz_armb%C3%A5nd.jpg
 

Correspondent Kiu

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I am interested in Franny vs. Ursula, that and of course Caro vs. Glushko plus Venus vs. Jana

It seems I have more favs here than the other places this week.
 

pavlik89

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[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Net1PoAzaI8[/video]
 

sk310

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Nice to see Sloane playing well...Although I know almost everyone here hates her.

Also a good win for WC Taylor Townsend.