ASB Classic tournament director Karl Budge is holding off panicking despite a nightmare draw
ASB Classic tournament director Karl Budge is holding off panicking despite a nightmare draw
29 December 2018
Former world number ones Victoria Azarenka and Venus Williams have been drawn to face each other in the opening round of the Auckland tournament.
But Budge says it's more exciting than concerning.
He says the big names need to play at some point and this means it kicks things off for them very well.
Only one of Williams, Azarenka and Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki will potentially be in the semi-finals, after they were all drawn in the top quarter of the draw.
The ASB Classic begins on New Year's Eve.
Meanwhile Valentina Ivanov has beaten fellow-Kiwi and New Zealand number one Paige Hourigan 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the first round of qualifying.
TENNIS WITH CROWN FORKLIFTS. WHEN IT COMES TO FORKLIFTS, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A CROWN.
© 2024 Newstalk ZB, NZCity