KEY POINTS:
There may be no Lindsay Davenport-type superstar attraction but January's women's Classic field is shaping up to be the toughest ever.
Nadia Petrova, the world No 11 ranked Russian, is the latest player to declare her intentions to come to Auckland, meaning the ASB Classic will boast three
of the world's top 12 players. A fourth player inside the top 20 is also expected to be announced before the full field is revealed on November 26.
Petrova will be the second seed, behind countrywoman and world No 4 Elena Dementieva. Fast-rising Dane Caroline Wozniacki, the world No 12, will be the third seed.
Petrova's decision to return to Auckland means the tournament will boast close to the strongest field allowed under new WTA rules. Classed a second-tier "international" event under the WTA's Roadmap 2010 revamp, the tournament is now allowed one top 10 player.
To secure the next two highest-ranked players outside that restriction is a bit of a coup for Auckland, which faces strong competition for players from a tournament in Brisbane.
Speaking from Moscow yesterday, Petrova - a semifinalist in Auckland in 2006 - said she was delighted to be heading back to New Zealand after tour rules prevented her from doing so this year because of her top 10 ranking.
"I really have great memories from my previous time there," she said.
"I'm hoping to discover a little bit more of New Zealand. Hopefully I'll have enough time."
The changes to the WTA calendar may have benefited the Auckland tournament but they haven't exactly met with universal approval from the players. Many were upset at the large increase in mandatory tournaments and the hefty fines they now faced for non-attendance.
Petrova said it was too early to tell whether the changes would work and players were concerned the high number of mandatory tournaments in the second half of the season could result in injuries.
One aspect of the new system she did approve of was the extended off-season, which gave players more chance to recuperate.
"One thing is for sure, I'll be in the best shape of my life [in Auckland]," she said.
Ranked as high as three in 1996, Petrova is one of just four players to have been ranked that high to appear in Auckland. The others are Mary Pierce (3), Lindsay Davenport (1), Conchita Martinez (2) and Jelena Jankovic (1).
With nine Tour titles to her name, Petrova is one of an ever-expanding group of Russians dominating women's tennis. Five of the 10 players ranked above her are Russian and there are seven in the top 20.
"We are a big country with a lot of people and we all have our own ways. But if we want something we will get it. We don't care how hard we have to work for it because we know the rewards will be there. I think that's what really drives us in our lives."