Herald tennis reporter Michael Burgess previews the penultimate day of the ASB Classic
First semi-final: Caroline Wozniacki (1) vs Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (4)
Head to head: Wozniacki leads 3-1, then the Czech won their last encounter at Wimbledon last year.
Form: Worzniacki has yet to drop a set and was only tested for the first time yesterday. Zahlavova- Strycova has had the tougher road, coming through two three set battles, but the 29-year-old has got better with every match.
Verdict: She's an unfashionable player but you can't discount the Czech, who has shown great mental strength this week. She'll need to start well though and try to force Wozniacki into mistakes. But the world No8 should be too strong, even if it takes three sets.
Second semi-final: Venus Williams (3) vs Lauren Davis (unseeded)
Head to Head: Yet to play.
Form: Williams has got better with every match, though she only faced her first real test yesterday against Elena Vesnina. She looks comfortable, confident and calm and will be hard to beat. Davis has come through three tough three setters.
Verdict: Venus holds her destiny in her own hands. If she plays to her potential, she is hard to beat at this level and will relish the chance of back to back finals in Auckland. Davis admitted it "was going to be a dream to play a Williams sister" and will be tested by the occasion, her first WTA level semi final.
But she is the ultimate battler, having come back from losing the first set in each of her three matches in Auckland. It's an outside chance, but Davis could spoil the party if she can frustrate Williams with her incredible retrieving ability.
Doubles decider
The second doubles semi final sees Czech second seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka - who beat Marina Erakovic and Monica Puig yesterday - take on the fourth seeded combination of Shuko Aoyama (Japan) and Renata Voracova (Czech Republic).
