KEY POINTS:
Former world No 1 Lindsay Davenport looks likely to be the star attraction of January's ASB tennis Classic.
On the comeback trail after taking time off to give birth to son Jagger, Davenport said on her official WTA tour blog that she was looking forward to a holiday before going to Auckland to start next season.
The blog was later amended to say she would be heading Downunder but tournament director Richard Palmer was hopeful that didn't signal a change of heart from a player with 52 career singles titles to her name.
"We are hopeful and reasonably optimistic that she will come our way," Palmer said.
"But I have sung from the rooftops before so I am tempted to be on the cautious side of things. Even when I am highly confident I am cautious because things can change overnight."
Davenport's management had originally asked that she be granted a wildcard entry to the draw of 32, Palmer said.
However, her recent tournament victory in Quebec had lifted her ranking to 74, which would earn her direct entry to Auckland. That would likely free up a third wildcard for a New Zealand player, although there was still a provision for a top 50 player to claim that wildcard.
Sacha Jones and Marina Erakovic are the frontrunners to claim the first two wildcards.
Davenport's presence would be a boost for a tournament that could struggle to attract a current top 20 player.
The field will be announced on November 21.
Palmer expected Davenport's management to confirm her plans within three or four days.
"When her blog was changed from Auckland to Downunder it did make a bit of doubt creep in to the mind," he said.
"But we are basically waiting for a final confirmation from her people that she is still coming here, that there hasn't been a change of tack."
There were still two spots in an eight-player exhibition tournament in Hong Kong open to Davenport and a rival tournament on the Gold Coast would also be keen to secure her presence.
The US$145,000 tournament runs from January 1-6.
* Reigning champion David Ferrer is expected to be one of the major drawcards for the January 8-14 men's Heineken Open.
Ferrer, ranked sixth in the world, won his first hardcourt title in Auckland this year and went on to make the semifinals of the US Open despite being regarded as largely a clay court specialist.
Organisers are expected to announce the presence of a top-eight ranked player in the draw at the tournament launch at the ASB Tennis Centre today.
