Tennis: Kiwis expect brutal ASB Classic qualifying

New Zealand wildcard Finn Tearney during the 2016 ASB Classic. Photo / Getty Images

Kiwi tennis number one Finn Tearney thinks Auckland's ASB men's Classic will produce its strongest ever qualifying tournament in January.

With the cut off for the main draw at 60, Tearney expects the 16 strong qualifying field will largely be filled by top 100 players, because lower ranked players will need to get to Melbourne for Australian Open qualifying.

He says players ranked 70 to 100 will all want to play the week of the Auckland tournament.

Finn Tearney chases a ASB Classic main draw wildcard at the New Zealand Championships later this month.