New Zealand's premier women's tennis tournament should continue to attract top players after a cash injection announced yesterday.
New Zealand Tennis general manager Patrick O'Rourke said the increase of $70,000 in prizemoney for the ASB Bank Classic would retain the tournament's international status, which boosts the ranking points on offer for players.
The tournament, held in Auckland in early January each year, will now offer total prizemoney of $325,000.
The new money prevents the tournament's status falling from a tier four to a tier five event under structural and financial changes announced by the Women's Tennis Association.
A drop in status, and therefore ranking points, would have made it virtually impossible to attract any players ranked in the top 20 in the world.
O'Rourke said the extra prizemoney was attractive for players, but it was the ranking points which were important.
The winner of a tier four event collects 120 points, compared to 80 for winning a tier five tournament.
He said the drop in the New Zealand dollar meant it was even harder to raise the $US140,000 ($338,327) minimum needed for a tier four tournament.
"To be able to continue staging a women's international tennis tournament in New Zealand which consistently attracts players ranked in the world's top 20 is fantastic."
The next tournament begins on December 31 and will finish on January 5.
- NZPA
Tennis: Funding boost for women's tournament
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