ASB Classic 2016 Preview

ASB Classic 2016 Preview

 Can crowd favourite American Venus Williams defend her title or will there be a surprise in this year’s tournament?

The best female tennis players from all over the world head to Auckland for this year’s ASB Classic, where they will get some preparation in before the first major of the year, the Australian Open. Often expressed as the friendly and very well, organised tournament each year, the Auckland tournament exceeds expectations by attracting many top 50 players than the prize money on offer would warrant. The weather
for tournament week is usually excellent with hot sunny conditions and temperatures above 25 degrees, however as has been the case this year it sometimes starts with wet weather and a need to play the qualifying games indoors. Unfortunately this year there is some rain expected to come during the week so that may affect the tournament.

Last year’s field was strong, but this year’s field is even stronger with former major champions and finalists in the field:

•        World Number 7 Venus Williams (Top seed and five time US Open and two time Wimbledon champion). The skillful veteran enjoys this tournament, her two appearances have resulted in a her being runner up and then a victory. Venus has the all-round game to beat anyone and the 35-year-old American just seems to get better with age.

•        World Number 16 Ana Ivanovic (2nd seed and French Open Champion)
The 2014 Champion, like Venus, has the all round game to beat any of the top seeds but in recent years has lacked consistency and can struggle against the lesser known players.

•        World Number 17 Caroline Wozniacki (3rd seed and two time Us Open runner-up)
Last years finalist will be looking to go one better in 2015. Caroline has a good serve and a good net game which has helped her be successful throughout her career.

•        World Number 25 Svetlana Kuznetsova (4th seed and US and French Open Champion)
Kuzentsova has a good serve and baseline game which, when its on, most of the top players in the world struggle to cope with.

•        World Number 114 Francesca Schiavone (Wildcard and French Open Champion)
Francesca picked up a wildcard into this event as she tries to make her way into the Australian Open. She has a good allround game and will test whoever she plays against.

As well as those top four seeds and wildcard, tournament director Karl Budge also managed to fill up the other seeds with hard hitting and skillful Americans Sloane Stephens and Coco Vandeweghe, last year’s surprise package, the experienced Barbora Straycova and the rising young star Alison Van Uytvanck.

Unfortunately for home fans, don’t expect Maria Erakovic to win her first round match against Yulia Putintseva as Maria is coming back for injury. But truth be known Maria will look out of her depth with a weak serve and a weak baseline game which creates errors.

If the top four seeds win through to the semi-finals, then the finals would have a grand slam final feel about them: Williams vs Kuznetsova and Ivanovic vs Wozniacki.

Pick for the final:
Ivanovic will beat Williams in a rematch of the 2014 final.