Tennis: ASB Classic cancelled for second straight year

Serena Williams after winning the 2020 ASB Classic. Photosport

Tournament organisers have confirmed today that the ASB Classic, traditionally held in the first two weeks of the calendar year, will not be going ahead in 2022 due to Covid-19 restrictions.

In October last year, the 2021 event was cancelled thanks in large part to the Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier this year tournament director Karl Budge stepped down after nine years in the role. A replacement has yet to be named four months after Budge left.

The international tennis schedule has gone back to its pre-Covid calendar this year with most, if not all tournaments, back on in 2021.

Organisers have been working through a range of scenarios in hopes that a tournament would be possible in January, however due to immigration requirements for the over 250 athletes, officials and staff that would be required to travel to New Zealand for the event, a positive outcome was not possible.

Tennis Auckland board chair Simon Vannini was disappointed that the ASB Classic is not able to return in 2022, but is confident tennis in New Zealand won't suffer.

"We are incredibly disappointed that we won't be able to bring the ASB Classic back to Auckland this summer, but current immigration and quarantine requirements mean it's just not feasible," Vannini said.

"We are working closely with Tennis NZ on some alternative ideas that we think will keep tennis fans excited, and we will continue to ensure tennis remains one of New Zealand's favourite sports" said Vannini.

"We'd like to thank our family of sponsors for their ongoing support of the ASB Classic, and who have always been encouraging of our efforts to deliver one of New Zealand's favourite events. We love the ASB Classic as much as our fans do, and we'll keep working to bring the ASB Classic back to fans in 2023."

The last ASB Classic women's edition in 2020 was won by 23-time grand slam winner Serena Williams while Frenchman Ugo Humbert took out the men's event.

Up to eight of the world's top 10 women's tennis players were being lined up to star at this year's event before it was cancelled in October.

Plans were made to hold the 2021 event within a tournament bubble but it wasn't approved by the Government.

"We understand the pressures that are on Government right now to keep New Zealand safe and protect the gains that we've made," Budge wrote in a Q and A sent to sponsors and suppliers at the time.

"Whilst we are obviously disappointed, we have learnt to focus on the things that we have control over. This is not one of those and we now need to focus on how we can work with our supporters to come back stronger.