Tennis: Date change boost for women's tournament

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The decision to put the Australian Open back a week from the 2007 season could prove beneficial to the Auckland international women's tournament which precedes it.

The ASB Classic will retain its spot a fortnight before the Open, but will avoid the difficult late December or early January starts which have proved troublesome at times. "From our perspective the delayed start will be better from the corporate point of view," Classic director Richard Palmer said yesterday.

"In the years when we have started in late December and had to play over the New Year it has been a little difficult to attract corporate support. It is also a time of the year when many people are out of Auckland, which can test our volunteer base."

The late-year starts have not always been favoured by players who have their Christmas break disrupted.

Palmer said he was surprised Australian Open director Paul McNamee had announced the proposed changes so quickly.

Next year's ASB Classic will be played from January 3-8 followed by the men's Heineken Open from January 10-15.