The draw has been completed ahead of the ASB Classic 2025 which is due to take place between Monday December 30 - Sunday January 5 and marks the start of the WTA season.
Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova are among the top names involved over the next week and will start their 2025 campaigns in Auckland.
Raducanu in particular has spent most of Christmas in New Zealand preparing as she aims for a different tact during her 2025. She began her comeback to the sport this year at this tournament. While Anisimova also did the same. Both made strides but it was Anisimova up until she curtailed her season that impressed the most in the US and Canada.
While Osaka did so in the Asian hard court swing at the end of the season before it got curtailed when she was facing Coco Gauff when she was ahead. She also is currently working with Patrick Mouratoglou in one of the lead intriguing storylines of 2025.
Interestingly two players mainly are missing. Coco Gauff has decided this year to play United Cup instead. She has won the last two editions. While Bianca Andreescu earlier this month was confirmed by Stephanie Myles of OpenCourt to be taking a break from the sport and won't play Australian Open.
She was originally entered in and so Madison Keys is the top name and it is perhaps missing some of the star power of sorts that it had at the turn of this year when it also featured Caroline Wozniacki and Elina Svitolina.
Draw wise, Keys opens up against Lucia Bronzetti. While Raducanu faces Robin Montgomery. Katie Volynets v Erika Andreeva and Alycia Parks v Amanda Anisimova are perhaps other standouts.
Osaka will likely face a qualifier if it isn't Julia Grabher landing in a nice section of the draw for the former World No.1.
Madison Keys v Lucia Bronzetti
Yuliia Starodubtseva v Jaquline Cristian
Sofia Kenin v Xiyu Wang
Clara Tauson v Qualifier
Rebecca Marino v Lulu Sun
Bernarda Pera v Qualifier
Jule Niemeier v Qualifier
Robin Montgomery v Emma Raducanu
Katie Volynets v Erika Andreeva
An Li v Sloane Stephens
Greet Minnen v Qualifier
Alycia Parks v Amanda Anisimova
Naomi Osaka v Qualifier
Qualifier v Julia Grabher
Hailey Baptiste v Renata Jamrichova
Vivian Yang v Elise Mertens
WTA 250 Auckland Draw: pic.twitter.com/0J8CjbwuOo
— Tennis Updates (@TennisUpdates25) December 28, 2024