Tennis: 'Kiwi' Venus the headline act again

Venus Williams with the ASB Classic winner Ana Ivanovic. Photo / Richard Robinson

Venus Williams will again headline this summer's ASB Classic while sister Serena remains tantalisingly out of reach.

The elder half of world sport's most dominant sister act made her maiden appearance in Auckland earlier in the year, falling in a blockbuster final to Ana Ivanovic, and Williams took little persuasion to sign on for another year.

"Venus was always pretty happy to come back," said tournament director Karl Budge. "She had a wonderful time here - she felt really relaxed and it didn't take too much to get her to say she wanted to come. It took a little more to get her to sign on the dotted line but she was always really keen to come back.

"We also wanted to see Serena here - we were in advanced discussions with her all year. I'm optimistic that at some point we'll see her out in Auckland."

Serena will instead be at the Hopman Cup in Perth and, still the No 1-ranked player in the women's tennis (compared to Venus' No19 ranking), she is always in demand.

Venus, a seven-time Grand Slam winner, will still be enough to aid in attracting fans and fellow players alike, with tournament organisers hopeful of approaching the heights of last year's showpiece match.

"That final last year for us was as good as it gets," Budge said. "Any tournament around the traps, let alone an international-level tournament, would be absolutely delighted to have that final."

Williams enjoyed a good year after Auckland, reaching four finals and winning her 45th career title, and said via video message she was happy to be heading back.

"I'm so looking forward to coming back to Auckland, taking it a step further this year and hopefully winning the title," she said. "I had such a great time last year. Everyone made me feel so at home - I really felt like a Kiwi."

Venus Williams
• Age: 34, Ranking: 20, Career earnings: US$30.2 million.

• Winner of seven grand slam singles titles, 13 grand slam doubles titles, four Olympic gold medals.

• 2014 season: Four finals and one win (vs Ana Ivanovic in Dubai)