ASB Classic ladies 2025: Everything you need to know

The draw has been made, the courts are ready and the ball boys are assembled for the start of New Zealand’s premier tennis tournament.

The action at the Auckland Tennis Center begins on Monday with the women’s ASB Classic week – and for the first time in a long time, we have a real chance of seeing a local go deep and potentially lift the trophy.

But it’s not just about the action on the ground. The ASB Classic is as much about what happens in the stands, the boxes and in the hospitality area, so there’s a lot to look forward to in our all-too-brief summer of tennis.

Here’s a look at the competitors and what to watch out for:

An American invasion

Madison Keys will be feeling pretty good right now. The last time she came to Auckland, in 2013, she competed in the qualifiers, but this time she returns as the number one seed.

She is currently ranked 20th in the world, but could be on a collision course with fellow American Sofia Kenin in the quarters. Kenin has won the last two matches between the two, with the US overall victory odds high given they are 10th in the draw.

Will the sun shine?

Lulu Sun, born in Te Anau and raised in Switzerland, returns to Auckland for the first time as the official representative of New Zealand. Not only that, but at her highest ranking of 40 and following a breakout season that saw her reach the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and be judged WTA Newcomer of the Year.

She has won more than $1 million in prize money in 2024 and, although she has yet to win a WTA title, she reached the final of the Abierto GNP Seguros in Mexico last August.

It’s fair to say that a Sun win this week would be a dream for tournament organizers and headliners alike.

Welcome Naomi

It’s probably not accurate to say that the former world number one and four-time Grand Slam champion is desperate to reach those heights again, but rather that she just wants to be consistently competitive and enjoy it along the way.

Osaka experienced a high-profile mental health break in 2021, just as she was poised to become the long-term face of women’s soccer – which, in financial terms, would make her one of the most successful athletes best paid in the world.

It was a coup to bring the current 58th-ranked player in the world here, but judging by her social media this week, Osaka is having a good time so far.

Welcome back Emma

After a first visit to Auckland that really couldn’t have gone worse, Emma Raducanu is back for the third year in a row and will once again be a crowd favourite.

The 2021 US Open champion competed in one of the best matches the ASB Classic has ever seen in January, when she went the distance in an ultimately losing effort against powerful Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.

Raducanu provides the star power alongside Osaka, and both players have a nice run of matches before the business end of the tournament begins.

The best of the rest

The only other Kiwi in the draw, Vivian Wang, was granted a wildcard but drew number two seed Elise Mertens in the first round.

The Belgian comes in at 34th in the world, while the American Amanda Anisimova, Sun and the Dane Clara Tauson complete the top five.

Atmosphere

The ASB Classic has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best organized sporting events in this part of the world, thanks in large part to the hospitality options on offer. As long as the weather plays its part, the stands should be full every day and, at the back, there is plenty of room to watch the action on the big screen.

It’s a rather unique setting, with a center court surrounded by corporate boxes, and generous quantities of alcohol served that attract rowdy crowds watching the latest matches.

Monday, December 30, center court order of play

Day (from 11:30 a.m.):

• (Q) Lucrezia Stefanini ITA vs. (5) Clara Tauson DEN
• (4) Lulu Sun NZL vs. Rebecca Marino CAN
• (7) Naomi Osaka JPN vs (Q) Lina Glushko ISR

Evening (not before 6:30 p.m.):

• Ann Li USA vs. Sloane Stephens USA
• (8) Katie Volynets USA vs. Erika Andreeva

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