Tennis: Top class line up for women's event

Svetlana Kuznetsova. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Four players in the top 20, 10 players in the top 32, a genuine superstar, a New Zealander whose game is on the rise and a former enfant terrible whose back story is as fascinating and troubled as any in the game.

If you were glass half-empty, you'd lament the absence of a top-10 player, but even the miserablists would have to concede next year's ASB Classic is one of the best fields assembled here.

The bulk of the field for the January tournament was announced yesterday, with tournament director Richard Palmer throwing another couple of top-20 players into the mix.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova and popular Italian Flavia Pennetta joined the previously announced Sabine Lisicki and Peng Shuai.

"Kuznetsova was a real surprise," Palmer said. "She came totally out of the blue."

Kuznetsova, who was once ranked as high as No 2, has been a consistent performer on the WTA circuit for a number of years, but her star is but a flicker compared with Venus Williams'.

She might have required a wildcard as fitness and form issues have played havoc with her in 2010, but there is no question who will grab top billing. With seven Grand Slam titles and an Olympic singles gold, her curriculum vitae is as burnished as that of any recent visitor to this tournament.

"To have four players from the top 20 in the world and 10 players being ranked 32 or higher - plus superstar Venus Williams - makes this field outstanding," Palmer said.

"To pick a winner is impossible with so many top-class players.

"When you consider the cut-off for the 24 direct acceptances for the tournament will end up being around No 70 in the world, you start to realise what a treat the sporting public is in for in early January."

All four of last year's semifinalists are back - champion Greta Arn, finalist Yanina Wickmayer, Peng and Julia Goerges - but there is intrigue right through the field.

Christina McHale, ranked No 43, is seen by some as the new face of American tennis. The 19-year-old this year upset world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki and a good performance in Auckland could set her up for a breakthrough year.

The presence of Jelena Dokic adds a little spice. Yugoslav-born Australian Dokic reached as high as No 4 in 2002, but her career and life were blighted by a classic case of "tennis dad".

In 2009, Damir Dokic was convicted and sentenced to 15 months in prison for threatening the Australian Ambassador to Serbia with a hand grenade, for causing public endangerment and for illegal possession of weapons.

To say Damir had the odd anger management issue was understating it. He has accused Australian Open organisers of fixing the draw against Jelena (after she was bundled out in 2001 in the first round by Lindsay Davenport) and was turfed out of the US Open after starting an argument about the price of salmon in the players' lounge.

Admittedly, the cost of food at the Grand Slams can be ludicrous, but the cost of his antics to his daughter's career was possibly incalculable.

TOP RANKINGS

Sabine Lisicki (15*), Germany

Peng Shuai (17), China

Svetlana Kuznetsova (19), Russia

Flavia Pennetta (20), Italy

Julia Goerges (21), Germany

Roberta Vinci (23), Italy

Janina Wickmayer (26), Belgium

Monica Niculescu (30), Romania

* World ranking