Sloane Stephens, of the United States, reacts after a point against Johanna Larsson, of Sweden, during the second round of the 2014 U.S. Open tennis tournament. Photo / AP
America's brightest women's tennis prospect, Sloane Stephens, is to contest next year's ASB Classic in Auckland.
As the second youngest player inside the world Top 30, Stephens is the highest ranked American after the Williams' sisters, and is currently ranked world number 28.
"I am really excited to be starting
my year in Auckland for what will be my first experience of playing the ASB Classic main draw," says Stephens.
"I reached my first Grand Slam semi-final in Australia after a good start to the year, so I am hoping Auckland will enable me to go one better!"
2013 was Stephens' breakthrough year, reaching a career high of world number 11 in October and finishing the year at number 12.
She has recorded wins against Top 10 players Serena Williams, Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova. In 2014, the 21-year-old sensation reached the 4th round of the Australian Open and Quarter Finals at Birmingham, and Indian Wells, where she beat ASB Classic champion, Ana Ivanovic, en route. Stephens also played the Hopman Cup with Heineken Open defending champion, John Isner this year.
Her standout performance came at the Australian Open in 2013, where she beat Serena Williams in the Quarter Final, to reach her first Grand Slam Singles semi-final. The performance set American tennis alight, giving tennis fans a new champion to follow in the Williams' sisters footsteps.
"We had a stellar women's field last year, and we're now looking to the next generation of women's tennis to build on that," says Tournament Director, Karl Budge.
"Sloane is absolutely leading the charge for this next wave of champions, so we are thrilled to have her joining the ASB Classic field."
