ASB Classic set for glamour semifinal schedule, once rain stops

Top seed Caroline Wozniacki in action at the ASB Classic. Photo / Nick Reed

The 2018 ASB Classic has had an inauspicious start, but an unrivalled conclusion could be in store.

As weather disruptions look set to force players into playing two matches in a day, the crammed schedule could produce a rarely-seen glamour semifinal schedule at Stanley Street.

There is a significant chance that the semifinals could consist of the top four seeds – a feat that has occurred just once in tournament history.

Caroline Wozniacki, Julia Goerges, Barbora Strycova and Agnieszka Radwanska are all strong chances to win their quarter-final clashes against unseeded opponents, potentially creating a big-name semifinal slate.

In the 32-year history of the event, 1994 was the only time where all of the top four seeds contested the semifinals, back when the tournament had a much lower profile.

Those 1994 semifinalists – Julie Halard-Decugis, Patricia Hy-Boulais, Ginger Helgeson-Nielsen and Ines Gorrochategui - can't hold a candle to the current top four, with none of the 1994 four ever getting past the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam.

So, the chance for the four biggest names at the Classic to progress will surely be a boon to the organisers, as they hope to recoup crowds after the rain-disrupted opening to the event.

It is a contrast to last year, which saw none of the top four seeds make the semifinals, despite having some of the biggest names in the sport in attendance.

Serena and Venus Williams were gone by the second round, while Wozniacki fell in the quarter-finals, leaving a relatively underwhelming conclusion to a tournament which promised much more.

Such is life at the ASB Classic, where results are often random due to the Auckland being the first event of the season for the entire field.

Since the tournament began in 1986, the semifinals on average see not even half (1.5) of the top four seeds make it, with several unheralded players claiming glory in the past.

As a result, it's no sure thing that all four seeds will comfortably progress, especially considering that several of them have already been involved in tight early-round battles.

However, all of them are significant favourites, and other upsets throughout the draw means that for some, they will be playing less fearsome opponents than in the first and second round.

In fact, the big four – all ranked inside the world's top 30 – all face players ranked outside the top 100 in their quarter-final clashes.

World number three Wozniacki is the most likely to progress, with the in-form Dane taking on world number 108 Sofia Kenin. Radwanska plays world number 122 Sachia Vickery, Georges will battle against world number 100 Polona Hercog, and Strycova duels with world number 103 Su-Wei Hsieh.

An upset could be on the cards, but after the many rain-affected ailments, a blockbuster semifinal slate could be just the cure for the Classic.