ASB Classic tennis organisers have scored a coup with confirmation world women's No.10 Nadia Petrova from Russia will play in the January 2-7 tournament.
Petrova, 23, is the top-ranked player secured to date for the Auckland event and has recorded some top results this year.
She reached the fourth round
of the Australian Open, the semifinals at the French Open, and the quarterfinals of Wimbledon before losing to Maria Sharapova.
Petrova capped a great year at the grand slams with a quarterfinals appearance at the US Open.
She reached a career high singles ranking of No 6 in April 2004, and No 3 in doubles in March.
ASB Classic tournament director Richard Palmer said Petrova was just the second top-10 player to play in the Classic after German Anke Huber in 1997.
"It's wonderful that a player of Petrova's class is coming to Auckland for the first time.
"It's a coup to get her here and we look forward to seeing a player of this calibre on court in the New Year," Mr Palmer said.
Despite her good form this year, the Moscow native is yet to win a Women's Tennis Association (WTA) singles title.
She recently made the final of a WTA event in Bangkok, and has reached a final on two other occasions.
Petrova has won 11 doubles titles and earned US$4.32 million ($6.19 million) in prizemoney since turning professional in September 1999.
"She's certainly got the ability to win titles. We are obviously hoping that Auckland will be the first of many," Mr Palmer said.
- NZPA
