The calibre of the ASB women's tennis classic draw is expected to be elevated to new heights this morning

Tournament director Karl Budge will announce the direct acceptances for the January tournament.

The players who created the biggest headlines this year - Bianca Andreescu and Coco Gauff - have been confirmed, along with Serena Williams, French Open semi-finalist Amanda Anisimova and two-time defending champion Julia Goerges .

It's understood there will be another top 20 ranked player in the field and at least two more grand slam singles champions.



Andy Murray claims he can finally play tennis without worrying about his hip after the career-saving resurfacing surgery in January.

The 32-year-old expects next year's Australian Open to be the biggest test of his progress.



The signs are positive 17-year-old skier Alice Robinson could make a shock return to the giant slalom World Cup circuit in Vermont this weekend.

An MRI scan after her victory in the season-opening race in Austria last month revealed bone bruising on her knee, and she was advised to rest.

Robinson had targeted a return in France next month, but a second MRI scan this week in Colorado has given her clearance.



Russian sports officials have spoken out against the World Anti-Doping Agency committee's recommendations that the country be banned from the Olympics for four years due to a systemic drug-taking programme.

They say the punishment is overly harsh and would hurt sport there.

Their Moscow lab provided data that was found to have been doctored.

The agency's executive committee will make a decision at meetings in Paris on December 9.



Neil Wagner has moved to third in the test cricket bowling rankings after his match-winning five-wicket haul in the first test against England.

BJ Watling's double century has pushed him up to 12th in the batting stakes.



A win on the final race of day two has pushed Alex Maloney and Molly Meech into third in the 49erFX class at the Oceania sailing championships in Auckland.

Isaac McHardie and William McKenzie are fourth in the 49er, with Peter Burling and Blair Tuke a spot back in fifth.

In the Nacra 17, Gemma Jones and Josh Porebski sit eighth, while Olivia Mackay and Jason Saunders are 12th.



England's Ben Te'o will feature for the Sunwolves in their final Super Rugby season after the 32-year-old midfielder was left out of the England squad for the World Cup.



The Buller rugby union gets its first Ranfurly Shield challenge in 19 years next season.

Canterbury will defend the log against them on July 11 in Westport.