WTA Auckland Open

The WTA Auckland Open (currently sponsored by ASB Bank and called the ASB Classic) is a professional women's tennis tournament in Auckland, New Zealand. The tournament is played annually, in the first week of January, at the ASB Tennis Centre in the suburb of Parnell, just east of the Central Business District. It is an International level tournament in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) World Tour. The equivalent men's event, the ATP Auckland Open, is played in the following week, immediately ahead of the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, the Australian Open.

For the Men's event, see ATP Auckland Open.

WTA Auckland Open
Tournament information
Founded1956 (1956)
LocationAuckland
New Zealand
VenueASB Tennis Centre
CategoryWTA 250
SurfaceHard (Plexicushion) - outdoors
Draw32S / 24Q / 16D
Prize moneyUS$267,082 (2024)
Websiteasbclassic.co.nz
Current champions (2024)
Singles Coco Gauff
Doubles Anna Danilina
Viktória Hrunčáková

The Auckland Open returned in 2023 after the 2021 and 2022 events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic owing travel restrictions for international visitors to New Zealand.[1][2][3]

History

In 1886 the first open tournament held in Auckland was the Auckland Championships[4] was the precursor event to this one, but was not always staged. In the 1920s major new tennis venues were built in Auckland for the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association (now called Tennis Auckland), as well as Wellington and Christchurch comprising both grass and hard courts.[5] In 1920 when the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association was looking for a permanent base, the only available site was a tip in Stanley Street. Undeterred, the local clubs raised the-then enormous sum of 1,800 pounds to prepare the site and build new courts. For the next 30 years the Tennis Centre in Stanley Street was home to local tennis matches. In 1942 the Auckland Championships were discontinued. In 1954 a second version of the Auckland Championships was revived that is still being staged today.[6]

In 1956 Auckland hosted its first new permanent international tournament, known as the 'Auckland Invitation'.[7] In 1959 the tournament was renamed as the New Zealand Invitation before returning to its former name in 1960. By the 1960s the shuttle bus fare from town to Stanley Street was sixpence. Admission was five shillings for the first three days and 7/6 for finals and semifinals – a whole tournament for the equivalent of $4. By the 1970s, 25 cents got you all-day parking next door at Carlaw Park. The tournament was played on outdoor grass courts from its inaugural edition in 1956 until 1977, switching to hard courts in 1978.

In 1963 this event was rebranded as the Auckland Wills International tournament. In 1969 its official name was altered again to the New Zealand Open. In 1971 its official name was changed to the New Zealand Centennial Open for one year only before returning to its former name until 1981 when the event was separated into the ATP Auckland Open for men and the WTA Auckland Open for women. Between 1979 and 1989 the men's editions of the tournament were part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit.

From 1969, the first edition in the open era of tennis, until 1981 the joint tournament was known under its sponsored name 'Benson and Hedges Open'. When the event was split into two tournaments the men's sponsorship continued as the Benson and Hedges Open. Then from 1998 until 2015 it was named the 'Heineken Open'.[8] There was no women's events for the years 1983 to 1984 and 1986. In 1987 the women's event resumed and its sponsorship name was the Nutri-Metics Open until 1989, then called the Nutri-Metics International in 1990, then the Nutri-Metics Bendon Classic from 1991 to 1992, then the Amway Classic from 1993 to 1996. In 1997 it was branded as the ASB Classic a women's tournament.

After being separated for 34 years, the WTA and ATP merged the event in 2016 and both tournaments are now known collectively as the ASB Classic. Heineken will still be a sponsor but will have a diminished role in anticipation of new tennis regulations restricting alcohol sponsorship.[9]

Both the 2021 and 2022 Auckland Open were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In regards to the 2022 cancellation, organizers cited New Zealand's strict quarantine rules as making it intractable for players, officials, and all other required staff to be admitted into the country.[10][2]

Finals

Singles
For historical winners of this event see Auckland Championships 1886–1942
Year Champions Runners-up Score
Auckland Invitation
1956[11] Mary Bevis Hawton Thelma Coyne Long8–6, 10–8
1957[11] Margaret Hellyer Ruia Morrison6–4, 6–4
1958[11] Angela Mortimer Ruia Morrison6–2, 6–1
New Zealand Invitation
1959[11] Ruia Morrison Betty Holstein6–4, 6–4
Auckland Invitation
1960[11] Ruia Morrison (2) Margaret Smith6–2, 6–4
1961[11] Jan Lehane Ruia Morrison6–0, 6–3
1962[11] Darlene Hard Ruia Morrison7–5, 7–5
Auckland Wills International
1963[11] Lesley Turner Ruia Morrison-Davy6–2, 6–1
1964[11] Margaret Smith Jan Lehane6–4, 3–6, 6–0
1965[11] Rita Bentley Jill Blackman6–4, 6–3
1966[11] Margaret Smith (2) Kerry Melville6–1, 6–1
1967[11] Rosie Casals Françoise Dürr6–2, 7–5
1968[11] Kerry Melville Gail Sherriff8–6, 6–1
↓  Open Era  ↓
New Zealand Open
1969[11] Ann Haydon Jones Karen Krantzcke6–1, 6–1
1970[11] Ann Haydon Jones (2) Kerry Melville0–6, 6–4, 6–1
New Zealand Centennial Open
1971[11] Margaret Smith Court (3) Evonne Goolagong3–6, 7–6, 6–2
New Zealand Open
1972[11] Kerry Melville Rosie Casals6–2, 6–0
1973[11] Evonne Goolagong Marilyn Pryde6–0 6–1
1974[11] Evonne Goolagong (2) Ann Kiyomura6–3, 6–1
1975[11] Evonne Goolagong (3) Linda Mottram6–2, 7–5
1976[11] Sue Barker Helga Niessen Masthoff6–5, rained out title shared
1977[11] Heidi Eisterlehner Karen Krantzcke6–4, 6–4
1978[11] Helena Anliot Marilyn Tesch6–4, 6–3
1979[11] Pam Whytcross Brenda Perry6–3, 7–5
WTA Auckland Open
1980[11] Janet Newberry Judy Connor Chaloner6–2, 6–1
1981[11] Pam Whytcross (2) Chris Newton3–6, 6–4, 6–1
1982[11] Susan Hagey Belinda Cordwell6–4, 6–2
↓  Category 1  ↓
1986[11] Anne Hobbs Louise Field6–4, 6–2
1987[11] Gretchen Magers Terry Phelps6–2, 6–3
1988[11] Patty Fendick Sara Gomer6–3, 7–6
1989[11] Patty Fendick (2) Belinda Cordwell6–2, 6–0
↓ Tier V ↓
1990[11] Leila Meskhi Sabine Appelmans6–1, 6–0
1991[11] Eva Švíglerová Andrea Strnadová6–2, 0–6, 6–1
1992[11] Robin White Andrea Strnadová6–0, 6–0
↓ Tier IV ↓
1993[11] Elna Reinach Caroline Kuhlman6–0, 6–0
1994[11] Ginger Helgeson-Nielsen Inés Gorrochategui7–6(7–4), 6–3
1995[11] Nicole Bradtke Ginger Helgeson-Nielsen3–6, 6–2, 6–1
1996[11] Sandra Cacic Barbara Paulus6–3, 1–6, 6–4
1997[11] Marion Maruska Judith Wiesner6–3, 6–1
1998[11] Dominique van Roost Silvia Farina4–6, 7–6, 7–5
1999 Julie Halard-Decugis Dominique van Roost6–4, 6–1
2000 Anne Kremer[11] Cara Black6–4, 6–4
↓ Tier V ↓
2001[11] Meilen Tu Paola Suárez7–6(10–8), 6–2
↓ Tier IV ↓
2002[11] Anna Smashnova Tatiana Panova6–2, 6–2
2003[11] Eleni Daniilidou Cho Yoon-jeong6–4, 4–6, 7–62
2004[11] Eleni Daniilidou (2) Ashley Harkleroad6–3, 6–2
2005[11] Katarina Srebotnik Shinobu Asagoe5–7, 7–5, 6–4
2006[11] Marion Bartoli Vera Zvonareva6–2, 6–2
2007[11] Jelena Janković Vera Zvonareva7–6(11–9), 5–7, 6–3
2008[11] Lindsay Davenport Aravane Rezaï6–2, 6–2
↓  International  ↓
2009[11] Elena Dementieva Elena Vesnina6–4, 6–1
2010[11] Yanina Wickmayer Flavia Pennetta6–3, 6–2
2011[11] Gréta Arn Yanina Wickmayer6–3, 6–3
2012[11] Zheng Jie Flavia Pennetta2–6, 6–3, 2–0 Ret.
2013[11] Agnieszka Radwańska Yanina Wickmayer6–4, 6–4
2014[11] Ana Ivanovic Venus Williams6–2, 5–7, 6–4
2015[11] Venus Williams Caroline Wozniacki2–6, 6–3, 6–3
Auckland Open
2016[11] Sloane Stephens Julia Görges7–5, 6–2
2017[11] Lauren Davis Ana Konjuh6–3, 6–1
2018[11] Julia Görges Caroline Wozniacki6–4, 7–6(7–4)
2019[11] Julia Görges (2) Bianca Andreescu2–6, 7–5, 6–1
2020[11] Serena Williams Jessica Pegula6–3, 6–4
2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022
↓  WTA 250  ↓
2023 Coco Gauff Rebeka Masarova6–1, 6–1
2024 Coco Gauff (2) Elina Svitolina6–7(4–7), 6–3, 6–3

Event names

This tournament had just its official names from 1956 to 1968 with no sponsorship. In 1969 following the start of the open era sponsorship begins and the event carries both its official designation and its sponsorship title.

Official
Name Years Event type
Auckland Invitation1956–1958, 1960–1962combined
New Zealand Invitation1959combined
Auckland Wills International1963–1968combined
New Zealand Open1969–1979combined
Auckland Open1980–1981combined
WTA Auckland Open1982–2015women's
Auckland Open2016–currentcombined

The tournaments sponsored names have been as follows:

Name Years Event type
Benson & Hedges Open1969–1970, 1960–1962combined
Benson & Hedges Centennial Open1971combined
Benson & Hedges Open1972–1981combined
events separate (1982–2015) & no women events (1983–85)
Nutri-Metics Open1987–1989women's
Nutri-Metics International1990women's
Nutri-Metics Bendon Classic1991–1992women's
Amway Classic1993–1996women's
ASB Classic1997–2015women's
events combine again (2016)
ASB Classic2016–currentcombined

See also

References
  1. "2021 ASB Classic cancelled". Stuff. 6 October 2020.
  2. "Tennis: ASB Classic cancelled for second straight year". NZ Herald. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  3. "ASB Classic to return to Auckland after 2-year hiatus". 1 News. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  4. "The Auckland Tennis Championships". New Zealand Herald: Volume XXIX. No. 8813. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 29 February 1892. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  5. Romanos, Joseph (5 September 2013). "Tennis: Consolidation, 1920s to 1940s". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage, New Zealand. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  6. "Auckland Champs Roll of Honour". Tennis Auckland. 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  7. Romanos (2013)
  8. "Tennis: Net profits the name of the game". New Zealand Herald. 5 January 2002.
  9. "ATP and WTA Auckland events merge". Tennisnews.com. 28 August 2015.
  10. "2021 ASB Classic cancelled". Stuff. 6 October 2020.
  11. "Roll of Champions 1956-2020". ASB Classic. Tennis Auckland. 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
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