PREVIEW | 2024 ASB Classic Day Two featuring Coco GAUFF, Emma RADUCANU and SVITOLINA v WOZNIACKI

It is officially New Year and the new tennis season is well underway with Coco Gauff, Emma Raducanu and the matter of Elina Svitolina v Caroline Wozniacki all on Day Two of the 2024 ASB Classic in Auckland.

Day One saw victory for Amanda Anisimova and now the big names will all compete on the same night. In our preview, we look ahead to the big returns and all the action on January 2.

A lot of the hype and build-up for Auckland centred around the return of Emma Raducanu who is still one of the biggest draws in tennis despite not quite getting it right since winning the US Open with a myriad of injury and form woes. But going into this next season, she said she feels 'reborn' and ready for the task at hand.

Actions speak louder than words and she will first put that into practice in Auckland when she faces Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Not playing since April, who knows what to expect but it is a court that she will also hope to banish bad memories from after her injury issues started last year after slipping on the court at the ASB Classic.

As a result of the Raducanu hype train, Coco Gauff has not received the billing she usually would despite now being a Grand Slam champion and also the defending champion in Auckland. After one of the best back ends to the year of any WTA player, she will aim to continue that going into 2024. She faces Claire Liu, a fellow American to begin her quest and it is one that as a result saw her snub United Cup with her doubles partner, Jessica Pegula instead anchoring the country.

Also on Centre Court will be Rebeka Masarova taking on Petra Martic but sandwiched in between Gauff and Raducanu will be perhaps the real match of the day as mothers face off and two of the stories of 2023. Elina Svitolina won Comeback Player of the Year after re-establishing herself in the top 25 after only returning to action in May. Superb runs at all of the Grand Slams saw a new game develop out of her time away and one she will hope will continue. She faces Caroline Wozniacki.

Wozniacki returned at the US Hard Court swing and lost to Gauff in the fourth round. But the former Australian Open champion who retired during this swing last time around has not played since aside from exhibitions. The Dane took the move to not play any tournaments outside of the US during her 2023 return and so didn't quite have the same season as Svitolina. But in her first full year back on the tour, she will hope to emulate the Ukrainian and show some of the signs that were seen at Flushing Meadows. Who awaits the winner though? Potentially Emma Raducanu. An action packed day awaits in Auckland.