WTA ASB Classic Auckland 2026 prize money explained: How much can Venus Williams, Svitolina and Eala earn

The ASB Classic Auckland returns in a strengthened field for 2026, highlighted by the special inclusion of Venus Williams, who will make her comeback to the Australian swing after five years away. She will be joined by several notable names from the WTA Tour, including Elina Svitolina, Emma Navarro and Alexandra Eala, in a WTA 250 event scheduled to take place from 5 to 11 January.

The return of former World No. 1 Williams to competition outside North America is one of the tournament’s main highlights. As the first week of the season, Auckland will serve as an early test to assess the level of the players ahead of the Australian Open. The seven-time Grand Slam champion will be one of the main attractions after receiving a wildcard from the organisers as a former champion (2015), and this event is one of only three tournaments she has confirmed for the start of the year.

The top seeds will be Top 15 players Elina Svitolina (World No. 13) and Emma Navarro (World No. 15), who enter the tournament as clear title favourites. The 31-year-old Ukrainian will be aiming to start her Australian campaign on the right foot at a venue where she has enjoyed strong results in the past — including a run to the final in 2024, just months after returning from maternity leave, where she was only stopped by Coco Gauff.

Emma Navarro, meanwhile, is another player well positioned to capitalise at the start of the season, particularly given her status as the second seed and her growing experience among the elite. The 24-year-old American begins a more mature season and will be looking to regain ranking positions early in the year. With a significant number of points to defend at the start of the season, a strong result in Auckland will be crucial as she looks to take advantage of her favoured seeding.

Several intriguing names have also been added to the draw, particularly among players beginning to establish themselves on tour. Alexandra Eala stands out following a breakthrough 2025 season, highlighted by her first WTA 1000 semifinal. Now recognised as a regular presence on tour, the 20-year-old Filipina will be looking to show whether she can maintain consistency at the top level. Auckland will serve as an ideal opportunity to collect wins and match play ahead of her first appearance in the Australian Open main draw.

Eighteen-year-old Iva Jovic will also be one of the tournament’s attractions as she continues to gain experience on tour. She first came to wider attention a year ago at the Australian Open, where she reached the second round before falling to Elena Rybakina. Other notable names in the draw include Katie Boulter, Magda Linette, Donna Vekic and Janice Tjen.

The tournament winner will receive a total of $37,390 and 250 WTA ranking points, while the runner-up will earn $22,125 and 163 ranking points. This result represents an ideal start to the year, particularly for players such as Emma Navarro, Elina Svitolina, and Donna Vekic, who must defend a significant number of points during the upcoming Australian swing. Semifinalists will receive $12,331 and 98 points, while those reaching the quarterfinals are awarded $7,025 and 54 points.

Players exiting in the round of 16 will earn $4,285 and 30 points. Those eliminated in the first round of the main draw will receive a single ranking point and a participation prize of $3,065. These figures reflect the standard distribution for WTA 250 level events, providing essential early-season momentum for competitors looking to improve their standing before the first Grand Slam of the year.