The quality of the ASB Classic received another boost when world No 25 Maria Kirilenko confirmed she will come to Auckland in January.
The 18-year-old Russian is not only seen as one of the rising stars on the WTA Tour capable of breaking into the world's top 10, but also
one of the queens of an increasingly glamorous women's tennis circuit.
She is expected to be seeded third for the tournament and joins fellow Russian and world No 9 Nadia Petrova, Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova (19), No 41 Marion Bartoli and defending champion and world No 28 Katarina Srebotnik.
The full list of players will be announced on Wednesday and tournament director Richard Palmer expects to name at least 10 players inside the world's top 50. It will be one of the strongest fields in the tournament's history. The cut-off is likely to sit at around 85.
"We are sitting pretty nicely," Palmer said. "I am very happy with what we've got when you look at what's against us."
The ASB Classic clashes with the Hopman Cup, a tier-three event on the Gold Coast and exhibition matches in Hong Kong, all of which account for 42 of the world's top women players.
Kirilenko has progressed up the rankings after starting the year at 111. She claimed her first WTA Tour singles title in September, toppling then world No 1 Maria Sharapova in the semifinal of the China Open, and has won two doubles titles, including the 2004 DFS Classic in Birmingham with Sharapova.
New Zealand No 1 Marina Erakovic will be handed one of the two wild-card spots.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
