Despite a season-ending ranking of 74, Kournikova will be one of the biggest names to play in Auckland.
In confirming her appearance at the December 31-January 5 tournament, director Richard Palmer said luring the Russian star Down Under was a big day for New Zealand tennis.
"There are still people who say she can't play but the statistics tell a different story," he said.
"She has been ranked as high as No 8 in the world and has beaten big-name players, including the current world No 1 and 2 Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati - and Martina Hingis, Monica Seles, Conchita Martinez, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Steffi Graf.
"Anna has played in three Sanex WTA finals and been in 16 semifinals including Wimbledon. You don't have a record like that if you can't play.
"You have to remember she is still only 20 years of age and there are players on the tour who did not win their first title until they were older than that."
The question of an appearance fee was deftly sidestepped. Auckland Tennis chief executive Graham Pearce said the mooted $200,000 figure was off the mark.
While players on the WTA cannot demand appearance fees, they can negotiate and be paid for other activities including playing in a pro-am, an autograph-signing session or possibly a coaching clinic.
Kournikova has agreed to play only singles but Palmer was hopeful that she would also play doubles.
"Her doubles ranking is much higher and we would be very keen to see her in that draw," said Palmer. "She does not have to decide until the last minute."
With Hingis, Kournikova won a doubles crown in Moscow last month to finish the year ranked 26th on the WTA doubles list.
She has won 13 doubles titles, including the Australian Open in 1999 with Hingis.
Kournikova will play her first-round singles on January 1, the second day of singles play.
"We will be looking for a sellout that's for sure. The only other times in the tournament's 17-year history we have done that has been when [New Zealanders] Rewa Hudson and Belinda Cordwell have been in action in big matches."
Palmer said he was still chasing other big name-players including Spaniard Martinez, who was ranked No 2 at times between October 1995 and August 1996. She has ended this year at 35.
Should organisers chase a Spanish double act, they might get Angeles Montolio (ranked 23) to Stanley St.
Although it was unlikely that there would be a top 10 player in action, Palmer was confident of a top-class field for the first tier four tournament to be played here.
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