WTA ENTRY LIST 2024 ASB Classic including Coco GAUFF, Caroline WOZNIACKI, Emma RADUCANU and Elina SVITOLINA

Friday, 29 December 2023 at 23:17

The 2024 season is approaching, and it kicks off in New Zealand with the WTA 250 ASB Classic on the outdoor hard courts at the ASB Tennis Centre. The tournament boasts a lineup of nine players within the top 50, led by defending champion Coco Gauff (world No. 3) and Ukrainian Elina Svitolina (No. 25). Additionally, fans can anticipate the return of Emma Raducanu, who has received a wild card from the organizers.

In Auckland, the players will compete in a main draw of 32 players from December 31 to January 7, serving as preparation for the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open. Interestingly, all the players directly entering the ASB Classic Open will also be present at the Australian Open.

Gauff enters as the top seed and favorite to retain the title she secured in 2023. This tournament will serve as a crucial test for her to showcase her early-year form and arrive in peak condition for the Australian Open.

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Comebacks

The entry list reveals the presence of several players who did not compete at the end of the previous year. The second seed will be Elina Svitolina, who took a break from competition during the early months of 2023 and will be looking to accumulate points to climb the rankings. Svitolina concluded her season after the US Open, meaning she will return to action after almost four months.

Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki is in a similar situation. After coming out of a three-and-a-half-year retirement during the US hardcourt swing, she has not competed since the US Open. Wozniacki aims to regain her rhythm for the Aussie Open, the Grand Slam she won in 2018, which remains her only Grand Slam title.

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After a nine-month hiatus since her last appearance, young star Emma Raducanu is making her comeback to the court after an extended recovery from wrist surgeries. Ranked World No. 298, the British player will start seeking rhythm to return to high-level competition. Amanda Anisimova is also making a comeback after a mental health break since her defeat in April at the 2023 Madrid Open.

Here is the complete entry list for the tournament:

1. Coco Gauff (USA) World No 3

2. Elina Svitolina (UKR) No 25

3. Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) No 31

4. Emma Navarro (USA) No 32

5. Marie Bouzkova (CZE) No 34

6. Xinyu Wang (CHN) No 36

7. Petra Martic (CRO) No 40

8. Varvara Gracheva (FRA) No 43

9. Anna Blinkova No 50

10. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova No 57

11. Magdalena Frech (POL) No 63