This era's predominant female player, Serena Williams. Photo / AP
This era's predominant female player, Serena Williams. Photo / AP
Some of the biggest names in tennis are set to grace the ASB Tennis Arena in the next two weeks. Russell Blackstock has your guide to the action.
ONES TO WATCH
The tournament's headline act remains this era's predominant female player, Serena Williams.
The 35-year-old newly engaged American is the highest-paid female athlete in the world and has won 22 Grand Slam singles titles - a record she shares with Steffi Graf.
William's older sister, Venus, is back in Auckland for the fourth time - she won the tournament in 2015.
Third seed Caroline Wozniacki first came to Auckland in 2009 as a 19-year-old and reached world No 1 status the year after. She now has 25 WTA titles to her name.
Defending champion Sloane Stephens this week joined Ana Ivanovic as a high-profile late cancellation, and although disappointed by the twin loss, tournament director Karl Budge pointed out the field is still the strongest in the tournament's history.
Other notable names competing include Julia Goerges, ranked 54th in the world, and former champion Yanina Wickmayer, 51.
The late injury withdrawal of Juan Martin del Potro also robbed the men's week of some genuine star power. The Argentine is a marquee name, and one of only three men outside Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic to win a grand slam since 2009.
Barring further withdrawals, Auckland tennis will still see big names including David Ferrer, John Isner, Jack Sock, defending champion Roberto Bautista Agut and Feliciano Lopez.
There is also unpredictable Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis and surprise 2015 winner Jiri Vesely, who came through qualifying to take the title.
LOCAL FAVOURITES
New Zealand's most promising player, Jade Lewis, will be carrying Kiwi hopes as a main draw wildcard.
This is the first time the 18-year-old will play a main draw event at the highest level as she looks to transition from the ITF Junior circuit to the WTA Tour.
She is the niece of Chris Lewis who reached the final of Wimbledon in 1983 against John McEnroe. Her father, David, and uncle, Mark, also played Davis Cup for New Zealand.
New Zealand's top doubles player and defending champion Michael Venus will also go for glory after being awarded a doubles wildcard.
Venus is ranked a career-high 32 in the world, and won four doubles titles on the ATP Tour this season. The 29-year-old joins Kiwis Marcus Daniell and Artem Sitak in the doubles main draw.
New Zealand tennis No 1 Marina Erakovic is also in the hunt for success. The 28-year-old has played the tournament 11 times, reaching the semi-finals in 2007.
An ASB Classic ground pass is one of the best ways to see all the big names at the tournament.
WEATHER
Fingers crossed, it should be a dry start to tomorrow's opening of the women's tournament.
And according to WeatherWatch analyst Philip Duncan the chances of rain are small across the two weeks.
Temperatures are expected to be in the low 20s for the next fortnight, with highs of 24-25C on some days.
"Even if it doesn't feel all that hot it will still be easy for people to get burned, even if it seems cloudy," Duncan said.
"Anyone sitting outside should use plenty of sunblock if they want to enjoy the on-court action without worrying about overdoing the sunshine."
Tournament play will be suspended in the event of rain. All daily ticket sales have a 50 per cent rain refund policy.
ENTERTAINMENT
The event's entertainment area The Serve is doubling in size for this year's tournament, and will feature Kings, Laughton Kora, Boh Runga, Isaac Aesili of Latin Aotearoa, the Nathan Haines Band and Shapeshifter side project Peacekeepers.
A Kapiti store and wine bar is alongside the usual offerings from Nic Watt of Masu and True Food & Yoga, Sean Connolly of The Grill and Gusto at The Grand and Peter Gordon of The Sugar Club.
Watt will design a bespoke menu for the Moet & Chandon Champagne Lounge and also provide a special treat for the players each day.
Connolly will serve the best of New Zealand cuisine at a pop-up version of his restaurant The Grill, with a new tennis-inspired menu featuring the famous wagyu burger, as well as his signature popcorn prawns out of his Sydney restaurant The Morrison Bar and Oyster Room.
The Heineken Baseline Bar returns alongside the Moet & Chandon lounge, which has introduced a new Moet "The Now Hour" each Friday to celebrate the women's and men's semi-finals.
According to Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (Ateed), the 2015 event generated $1.9 million for Auckland regional GDP, with more than 49,000 attendees and 14,000 visitor nights, against a forecast of $1.26m, 28,000 attendees and 10,000 visitor nights.
The number of Kiwis visiting for the tournament has grown from 4626 in 2013 to 5830 in 2015. International visitors have increased from 476 to 530 in the same period.
TICKETS
Centre court tickets start from $40.
An ASB Classic ground pass is one of the best ways to see all the big names at the tournament. Starting from just $15, the ground pass lets fans catch all the action on courts two and four, watch the biggest stars practise and warm up on court five and take in all the action from centre court on the giant screens in The Serve entertainment area. Centre court tickets for Thursday, Friday and Saturday of women's week are sold out. All other sessions during women's week are close to being sold out - ground passes are still available.
Centre court tickets for the men's tournament for Friday the 13th and Saturday the 14th are also almost all gone.
One lucky tippler will win a piece of designer jewellery at this year's tournament.
A collection of three bespoke rings created by Naveya & Sloane will be on display at the Moet & Chandon Lounge - and one of the pieces will be up for grabs in a competition.
Guests buying a flute of champagne in the lounge during the ASB Classic will go into a draw for a chance to win.
The form of the Imperial Knots Collection takes its inspiration from the physical strength and power of tennis. The rings are in 18k gold and set with one of three rare and precious gemstones.
NEED TO KNOW:
What: ASB Classic Where: ASB Tennis Arena, Parnell (just off Stanley Street). When: January 2-7 (women), January 9-14 (men)
