Tennis: Classic may be without defending champ

Marion Bartoli in action at last year's ASB Classic. Picture / Greg Bowker

Defending champion Marion Bartoli is still playing "hard to get" for Auckland's ASB Tennis Classic.

The Frenchwoman has a new management company and is demanding appearance money to play in Auckland's WTA tournament.

Bartoli has just won a WTA tournament in Japan, lifting her to number 19 in the world rankings. It is the first time she has been inside the top 20 in her career.

Classic tournament director Richard Palmer admits she is not in the bag yet. He says they are still talking and now that she is in the top 20 it would be a bonus to sign her up.

Richard Palmer says with the world's top ten being on a gold exempt list and unavailable for the Classic, slightly lower ranked players are now asking the tournament for more practical assistance to play in Auckland.

- NEWSTALK ZB