Tennis: Classic aims for the top

Russian Elena Vesnina has confirmed her return for the 2010 Classic, which this year was one of her "biggest moments". Photo / Kenny Rodger

Organisers believe they are still in the running to recruit former world No 1 and seven-time Grand Slam winner Justine Henin to headline January's ASB Classic tennis tournament.

Henin, who made a shock retirement in May last year but announced a planned comeback last month, has been offered a wildcard for the Auckland event.

The Belgian star has yet to respond but she has pledged to return to competition in time for the Australian Open, and Classic organisers hope Auckland will be the first event of her comeback.

Auckland could hold several attractions for Henin. It would provide a low-key alternative to what is certain to be an extremely bright media spotlight in Australia. And it would also keep her at a distance from many of the game's big guns, including countrywoman Kim Clijsters, whose spectacular return from retirement - when she became the first wildcard in history to win the US Open - was in part what inspired Henin's return.

Classic organisers are expecting to learn of Henin's decision by Friday.

Henin won 41 WTA singles titles, an Olympic gold medal and more than US$19 million ($25.7 million) in prize money before quitting the game at just 25 while still ranked No 1. This year's beaten finalist, Russian Elena Vesnina, hopes to use the Classic to kickstart another career year.

Ranked No 79 in the world before this year's tournament, Vesnina reached her first WTA final, where she was beaten by countrywoman Elena Dementieva.

That proved to be a springboard to her most successful season, with the 23-year-old now ranked 22 after reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon and making a second career final at New Haven.

"I think it's true that if you play successfully in the first tournament of the year you will play well for the year," Vesnina said.

"It was my first final in Auckland and I will remember the tournament for a long time. It was one of the biggest moments for me."

Vesnina is the first player confirmed for either the Classic or the men's Heineken Open. Neither tournament will feature a defending champion, with both Dementieva and Argentinian US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro having confirmed their intentions to play elsewhere.

Marina Erakovic's injury-related slide in the ranking to 241 means New Zealand involvement in the tournaments will be limited to either wildcard entries or qualifiers.