Tennis: Caroline Wozniacki's love life helps lift her game

If life away from tennis is a pointer to on-court success, Caroline Wozniacki can look forward to a productive 2018.

The world women's No3 appeared relaxed and happy as she faced the media in Auckland yesterday, and admitted her recent engagement to former NBA star David Lee has enabled her to become a better player.

The Danish player is top seed for the ASB Classic, and will face American Madison Brengle in the first round tomorrow.

Wozniacki has been the comeback kid of the WTA tour over the last 18 months. She dropped out of the top 50 midway through the 2016 season, and was ranked 19 at the end of that year. But she reached a tour high eight finals in 2017 - winning two, including the WTA Championships - and was one of the hottest players on the circuit.

At the same time her relationship with Lee became more serious. She went public about their romance in February, and the glamour couple became engaged in November.

The effect, Wozniacki admitted, has been profound.

"I'm very lucky to have found a guy like David," said Wozniacki.

"He's amazing and really supportive and he's my rock. It's been really easy going and I enjoy that. He keeps me in check ... I like that."

Wozniacki added that Lee's experience as a professional sports person - he was a two-time NBA all-star and turned out for the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors - meant he could relate to her challenges.

"He's been my biggest supporter - no matter if he's been there at the tournament or cheering on from back home," said Wozniacki.

"He's made everything seem much clearer and easy. There is less pressure and everything outside of tennis is going great, so that makes it easier on court to focus just on that and enjoy it."

Lee hasn't made the trip to Auckland, but is expected to be in Melbourne for the Australian Open.

Wozniacki practised with American Christina McHale yesterday and looked sharp, finding her groove quickly with her trademark ground strokes. If she can progress past Brengle - whose counter punching game can be tricky - Wozniacki will be well positioned for a run at the title, and could claim the No1 ranking with a good run this week, depending on results elsewhere for Simona Halep and Garbine Muguruza.

Wozniacki was at the summit of the sport for 67 weeks in 2010 and 2011, and played down the significance of being there again, though it will no doubt feature highly on any list of New Year's goals she may compile today.

The feature match today is second seed Julia Goerges versus Rio Olympic champion Monica Puig.

The world No14 Goerges has a good record in Auckland - reaching the final in 2016 and the last four on two other occasions, but will face a tough test against Puig, who she has yet to beat in four previous attempts.

Croatian eighth seed Donna Vekic is also in action, against popular Belgian Kirsten Flipkens while the all-American match up between McHale and Taylor Townsend should be an entertaining clash.

New Zealanders Jade Lewis, Paige Hourigan and Erin Routliffe will also feature in the first round doubles.

Order of play

Centre court (start 10am)

Qualifying: [1] J Fett (CRO) v [8] M Kato (JPN)
P Martic (CRO) v M Vondrousova (CZE)
[8] D Vekic (CRO) v K Flipkens (BEL)
A Rus (NED)/S Soler-Espinosa (ESP) v [WC] P Hourigan (NZL)/E Routliffe (NZL)

Not before 7pm

M Puig (PUR) v [2] J Goerges (GER)
C McHale (USA) v T Townsend (USA)
Grandstand (start 10am)
Qualifying: V Kuzmova (SVK) v A Rus (NED)

Not Before 12.30pm

N Hibino (JPN) v Su Hsieh (TPE)
P Hercog (SLO) v A Van Uytvanck (BEL)
V Cepede Royg (PAR) v L Arruabarrena (ESP)
[WC] Sh Hsieh (TPE)/J Lewis (NZL) v [2] N Hibino (JPN)/D Jurak (CRO)

Court 2 (start 10.30am)

Qualifying: Y Bonaventure (BEL) v J Loeb (USA) or [6] A Rodionova (AUS)
Qualifying: T Mrdeza (CRO) or D Chiesa (ITA) v C Perrin (SUI) or [7] S Vickery (USA)

Not Before 1pm

A Muhammad (USA)/B Stefkova (CZE) v S Errani (ITA)/B Schoofs (NED)
K Christian (USA)/S Kenin (USA) v Y Bonaventure (BEL)/V Golubic (SUI)