Tennis: Classic attracts classy pair

An old favourite and a rising star are the latest players to be confirmed for this summer's women's international tournament.

Two-time winner Eleni Daniilidou will return for a fourth appearance. She will be joined on court at the ASB Classic by world No 1 junior Viktoria Azarenka.

Tournament director Richard Palmer is happy with the signings.

"I had an email from Eleni which said she would like to return, especially after the disappointment of last season," said Palmer. "She again said she regarded the Classic as her favourite tournament."

While her ranking has dropped to 70 in an injury-plagued year, Daniilidou will still claim a spot in the 32-strong main draw.

The 23-year old Greek won here in 2003 and 2004.

One of her best results this year came on grass at Birmingham, where she reached the quarter-finals before being beaten by Maria Sharapova.

She also reached the semifinals of the tier-four tournament in Slovenia, where she lost to this year's classic winner, Katarina Srebotnik, who will be back to defend in January.

Azarenka, 16, follows Maria Emila Salerni to Auckland as the top-ranked junior. Whereas Salerni was handed a wildcard into the main draw, Azarenka, ranked 144 on the latest WTA list, will have to play qualifying.

In junior singles play this year Azarenka (Belarus) has a 29-2 record and 21-1 in doubles, which includes victory in the Australian Open, where she teamed with New Zealand's Marina Erakovic.

In Grand Slam singles, Azarenka beat Erakovic in the quarter-finals in Melbourne, lost in the second round at the French Open, and won Wimbledon and the US Open junior crown after beating Erakovic (5-2, retired) in the quarter-finals.

Azarenka came through qualifying in the tier-three tournament in Guanzhou, reaching the semifinals.

While there is a possibility Azarenka could again team up for doubles with Erakovic, Palmer might hold out in the hope former doubles No 1 Paola Suarez will return to the ASB Bank Tennis Centre and join Erakovic in what would be an attractive pairing.

Erakovic is certain to be handed a singles wildcard.

The field for the January 2-7 tournament will be released next week with the overall cut likely to be close to the best ever.

The last player into the main draw in 2004 was ranked 75th in the world. The highest cut for seeded players was at 36, which is likely to be challenged this time.

With Nadia Petrova (Russia) already confirmed as the World No 9, the tournament has its highest-ranked player ever.

Second seed Daniela Hantuchova (Slovakia), ranked 19, gives the tournament its highest profile, although, in 1998, three players in the top 20 - at 14, 17 and 18 - played Auckland.