Tennis: Caroline Wozniacki gets tough path to ASB Classic title

Caroline Wozniacki is the top seed for the upcoming ASB Classic. Photo / Jason Oxenham.

Top seed Caroline Wozniacki may have a tricky path to the title at the ASB Classic.

The World No.3 is the hot favourite for the Auckland event after an impressive 2017 season where she reached a WTA tour high eight finals and won the season ending championships in Singapore.

But it won't be easy for the Dane, who has drawn Madison Brengle in the first round.
Brengle famously took down Serena Williams in the 2017 event – one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history – and the American is a renowned competitor.

Brengle has been as high as No.35 in the world and her steady defensive game means she can be a dangerous match up for higher ranked opponents in the first few weeks of the season.

Wozniacki, who has never lifted the trophy in Auckland across four previous visits, is also seeded to face Agnieszka Radwańska in the semi-finals, with the former world No.2 ending up on the same side of the draw.

Madison Brengle beat Serena Williams at the ASB Classic in 2017. Photo / Dean Purcell

Radwanska will face world No.71 Beatriz Haddad Maia (Brazil) in the first round, but some other top players have unenviable draws.

Third seed Barbora Styrcova faces former French Open finalist Sara Errani, while Auckland favourite and world No.14 Julia Goerges will play Rio Olympics gold medalist Monica Puig in the other standout match of the first round.

Kiwi wildcard Jade Lewis had lady luck on her side at Saturday's draw, as she was paired with a qualifier.

The teenager will still be a massive outsider – given she sits outside the top 1000 – but it is a much less daunting prospect than Lewis faced last January, when seven time grand slam Venus Williams was on the other side of the net first up.