Grand Slam winners Mary Pierce and Conchita Martinez are the major drawcards for next year's ASB Classic women's tennis tournament in Auckland.
Pierce, from France, won the Australian Open in 1995 and Spaniard Martinez won Wimbledon in 1994. Between them the pair have 47 career singles titles -- Martinez 32 andPierce 15.
Also returning to Auckland for the December 30-January 4 event is defending champion Anna Smashnova of Israel.
Ranked 16th in the world, Smashnova is likely to be the tournament's top seed.
The player list for the Classic is the best yet with last year's champion Meilen Tu, of the US, the last direct acceptance with a ranking of 73. Eight players are ranked in the top 34 in the world.
"The overall strength of the field is phenomenal. This year's ASB Classic is truly going to be New Zealand's very own grand slam," tournament director Richard Palmer said today.
Pierce will make her first visit to Auckland as she attempts to resurrect her career after two years beset by injury problems. Her ranking has slipped to 52.
Martinez first played in New Zealand as a 16-year-old in 1989 when she won the Wellington women's tour event.
The Spaniard, who has been as highly ranked as No 2 in the world, has enjoyed a late run of success this year and is currently ranked 34.
Martinez has been in three grand slam finals on three different surfaces, showing her versatility.
Smashnova, 26, won the Classic this year as an unseeded player and is set to make her eighth appearance at the event in January.
The Israeli has enjoyed a successful year to achieve her highest ranking and followed her win in Auckland with further singles titles in Vienna and Shanghai.
