Tennis: Classic field gets better

The ASB Classic continues to attract top-line players with news French Open semifinalist Dominika Cibulkova will play.

The 20-year-old Slovakian is ranked 29th in the world but was as high as 12 in July after her great run to the last four at Roland Garros. She beat former world No1 Maria Sharapova along the way before being beaten by then top-ranked Dinara Safina.

Cibulkova also reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and third round at Wimbledon but struggled with injury towards the end of the year, which saw her ranking slide.

The ASB Classic has attracted a good field to date with Italian Flavia Pennetta (world No12), China's Li Na (15) and Russia's Elena Vesnina (24), who was runner-up this year, already confirmed. The tournament had also attracted Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer (16) before she was banned for one year for missing three drugs tests.

Tournament director Brenda Perry is also hoping to attract one or more of Jelena Jankovic (8), Agnieszka Radwanska (10) and Marion Bartoli (11).

The full field for the January 4-9 tournament will be announced on Wednesday and Perry has promised more "surprises".

It's likely 2008 beaten finalist Aravane Rezai (26), who won the year-ending WTA tournament in Bali, and controversial Israeli Shahar Peer (31) will be among the names read out.

Cibulkova could expect to be among the seeds and Perry expected her to be a popular player.

"Obviously her success at Roland Garros was the key to her year," Perry said. "Making the semifinals of a grand slam is something pretty amazing.

New Zealand's Marina Erakovic (233) and Sacha Jones (168) will receive wildcard entries for the event.