Perry not worried by lack of stars for ASB Classic

ASB Classic tournament director Brenda Perry is happy with the field starting to take shape for the tournament despite the lack of stars

4 November 2009
Despite lacking a marquee player tournament director, Brenda Perry is happy with the field she is starting to secure for the ASB Classic in Auckland.

Perry has unveiled her second top 20 ranked player for the January tournament, with 18th ranked Belgian Yanina Wickmayer confirmed to play. She joins world number 15 Li Na in the field.

Perry says Wickmayer is someone who they have been chasing for a while. She says they have had their eye on the 20-year-old for the past few weeks.

Wickmayer's signing will be some consolation for a few big names the Auckland tournament has failed to attract. Defending champion Elena Dementieva and 2009 semifinalist Caroline Wozniacki have both opted to play elsewhere, while Belgian star Justine Henin has decided to make her comeback to top level tennis in Australia rather than New Zealand.

However, Perry says Auckland remains a popular tournament for some of the rising stars. She says over the years the Classic has attracted great fields with a large number of top 20 players coming to play.

Perry is hoping to announce another top 20 ranked player for the Classic in the coming weeks.

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