Tennis star dreams of victory

Venus Williams arrives in Auckland ahead of Monday's ASB Classic. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Tennis star Venus Williams has already won the ASB Classic - in her dreams.

The seven-time Grand Slam singles winner confessed yesterday she dreamed she'd claimed victory in the Auckland tournament.

As she stepped off her 13-hour flight, she said: "Well, the other day I dreamed I had a win, and then I woke up and I realised I hadn't even played a round. So it was like, 'Oh man'."

It's the first time on New Zealand soil for the 33-year-old who has slipped down the world rankings to 47th after battling ill health.

There's no doubting she is still a major drawcard for the tournament and she said she was hoping to use it as a springboard back to the top.

Williams said she felt she was back on form.

"I feel like I'm coming into the season as fit and healthy as I have (been) in many years, so for me that's exciting."

Asked what she hoped to achieve at the tournament, she said: "I hope to go round by round and at least get to the finals. That'd be awesome."

Williams was among several players who landed yesterday morning ahead of the ASB Classic tournament, which starts on Monday.

Williams, dressed casually in black leggings and a white tank top, said her goal for the 2014 season was "to be like Serena Williams", her world No1 tennis champion sister.

Success on the Auckland courts would ring in a good start to the new year for the player, who said she was forced to miss Christmas Day as she was on the plane.

"I missed a whole day - and we missed the 26th, so I don't know where the 26th went. We can't find it," she joked.

And with that she thanked media, helped lift her suitcases into a waiting car, and was whisked off towards the city.