The Serena Williams effect on the ASB tennis Classic has been immediately felt with a surge in ticket sales following her announcement.
Most of the remaining corporate boxes for the tournament have been snapped up in the past 24 hours while the tickets to the stands are rapidly selling out.
AUT sports marketing guru Geoff Dickson says it's no surprise considering Serena Williams is one of the most popular athletes on the planet.
He says her status is not just confined to the tennis world and it's so large that it actually transcends sport and she will bring a lot of eyeballs to the attention of the ASB Classic.
