Teenage tennis star Coco Gauff has confirmed she is returning to the ASB Classic - the first female player announced for the January tournament in Auckland.
The 18-year-old, currently ranked 12th in the WTA in singles and World No.1 in doubles, was announced on Tuesday morning to make her first appearance since 2020 with the last two events in Auckland cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Gauff said she was quick to take up the opportunity to return to Auckland after enjoying her first visit to the country two years ago.
“I am super-excited to be returning to the ASB Classic. It was a bucket list tournament of mine before Covid. I definitely missed New Zealand the last two years and I am excited to kick my year off back in Auckland,” said Gauff.
“Auckland is such a beautiful city and I am excited to come back. I chose to return to because the fans, the atmosphere and the city are unique to the tour.”
Gauff burst on to the scene in 2019 when she reached the fourth round of Wimbledon as a 15-year-old. Since then she has continued to climb with a quarter-finals finish at the French Open in 2021 before making the final at Roland Garros this year where she lost to Iga Swiatek.
After getting knocked out in the second round of the ASB Classic in 2020, Gauff is keen to improve and use the tournament as a springboard for her big goals in 2023; reach World No.1 in singles and win a Grand Slam.
Tournament Director Nicolas Lamperin told 1News the organisation is thrilled that Gauff is returning to Stanley St.
“Coco is one of the biggest names in women's tennis these days and she's only 18. We feel like she's been on the tour for many, many years but she's only 18," Lamperin said.
"At one point she was concerned the tournament may not be able to come back so for her it was very positive news.
"She very excited about the idea of coming back."
Gauff is the second big name confirmed for next year's tournament with Wimbledon semi-finalist and Bucklands Beach legend Cameron Norrie announced earlier this year.
Lamperin told 1News Tuesday the women's draw will have more big names added to it soon.
"There will be a combination of top 10 but also a former grand slam champion," he said.
"I'm very confident that we will be able to have a very strong field in Auckland next year."
Tickets for next year's ASB Classic, which runs from January 2 to 14, will go on sale to the general public on Tuesday September 27.
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