By TERRY MADDAFORD
There is a distinctly Russian look about opening day at this year's Classic.
In what promises to be an exciting tournament opener, former ASB Classic top seed Elena Likhovtseva meets highly-rated Slovakian Henrieta Nagyova first-up on centre court.
That match will be followed by the all-Russian clash between third seed, and last year's beaten finalist, Tatiana Panova and up-and-comer Vera Zvonareva.
The first doubles will follow with Mary Pierce and Paola Suarez meeting fourth seeds Eleni Daniilidou and Patricia Wartusch.
Shelley Stephens will carry New Zealand hopes in the fourth centre-court match of the day when she meets young American Laura Granville.
The last match on that court features last year's champion Meilen Tu and Martina Sucha.
Separated by just nine places on WTA rankings, this promises to be a close affair with the successful player to meet the winner of tomorrow's clash between eighth seed Katarina Srebotnik and Jill Craybas.
New Zealand's other singles hope, Leanne Baker, will be third on court four for her match with German Martina Muller.
Panova will be the only singles seed in action today, which ensures a log-jam of top singles matches tomorrow, with seven seeds, along with Pierce, in action. Panova will return to play doubles in the last match of the day on court four.
Tennis: Opening matches have a strong Russian flavour
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